Indicator 6: Youth Employment by Sector

Definition and rationale

The Youth Employment by Sector indicator is also known as 1-Digit Sector Level Indicator (KILM4, ILO).

The indicator aims to show where youth are working, i.e. in what specific sector. Aggregate sectors include agriculture, industry, and services, with employment in each category implying differences in terms of pay, job attachment, conditions of work, etc. Looking at youth employment by the 1-digit level over time provides information on which sectors youth are attracted to. Changes over time provide information on possible areas of economic growth or deterioration.

The indicator on employment by sector can be used in conjunction with other indicators, in particular employment by status, to identify vulnerable groups in the labour market. In addition, the breakdown of the indicator by sex allows for analysis of gender segregation of employment by specific sector.

Numerator and denominator and method of computation

Definition of sector:
For the purposes of the aggregate sectors: agriculture, industry and services sectors; the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) System (Revision 2 and Revision 3) provides the following definitions:

• The agriculture sector comprises activities in agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing.
• The industry sector comprises mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction and public utilities (electricity, gas and water).
• The services sector consists of wholesale and retail trade, restaurants and hotels, transport, storage and communications, finance, insurance, real estate and business services, and community, social and personal services.

Definition of employment: see indictor 3

Youth Employment by Sector indicator is computed as the percentage of total employment for the three sectors, and in the case of youth, it is computed as the percentage of total youth employment for the three sectors.

Relevant ICLS resolutions and guidelines / other international classifications

Resolution concerning statistics of the economically active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment, adopted by the 13th ICLS (October 1982);

ISIC of All Economic Activities, UN, (1990 and 2008). Series M, No. 4, Rev. 3.1. and Rev.4; 

Sources and data collection

See indicator 1

Comments and limitations

Limitations: See indicators 1-3.