UN adopts new tourism employment indicator

To guide efforts towards SDGs

The United Nations has marked a significant milestone in recognising the role of tourism in sustainable development by adopting a new tourism employment indicator as part of the official Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Indicator Framework.

This landmark decision was endorsed at the 56th session of the UN Statistical Commission, which means that, for the first time, global data on tourism employment will be systematically monitored as part of the SDG monitoring process.

With this addition, the number of official tourism-related SDG indicators has increased from two to three, further emphasising the sector’s substantial contribution to economic and social progress.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili highlighted the importance of measurement in achieving sustainable outcomes: “What gets measured, gets done. As part of Goal 8, we strive for sustainable tourism that creates jobs.

“The new tourism employment indicator goes beyond GDP to enhance our understanding of tourism’s potential for social progress. Policymakers will be better equipped to identify gaps, address inequalities, and maximise tourism’s social and economic benefits—ensuring no one is left behind.”

A recent survey by UN Tourism of Member States revealed a strong preference for the organisation to help drive tourism’s contribution to the SDGs. This new indicator, overseen by UN Tourism, provides the necessary evidence to advance that priority.

Introducing this indicator directly responds to a critical policy issue many nations face. By complementing the existing SDG indicator on tourism’s GDP, the new tourism employment metric offers a more holistic perspective on tourism’s sustainability, emphasising social development alongside economic factors.

This inclusion will formally integrate tourism employment into discussions at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals Report. Data will be available through the SDG Global and UN Tourism Statistics databases.

This new indicator was created collaboratively by Austria, Spain, Saudi Arabia, CARICOM, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and UN Tourism. It results from years of research, consultations, and intergovernmental processes and forms part of the second and final review of the SDG Indicator Framework within the 2030 Agenda.

This new indicator is particularly notable for its partnership between UN Tourism and the ILO, which enhances data collection efforts by leveraging the reporting mechanisms of both organisations. This collaborative approach ensures that prior investments in statistical data collection at national and international levels are maximised, reducing the reporting burden on countries.

Tourism plays a vital role in employment globally, representing 5.6% of total global employment. Between 2015 and 2023, tourism accounted for 5.6% of the worldwide workforce, with 127 million people employed in tourism in 2023 alone.

This data was drawn from 89 countries, representing 68% of the world’s population. Tourism provides significant employment and income opportunities in developed and developing countries, particularly in remote areas.

In Small Island Developing States (SIDS), tourism is even more integral, with an average of 12.9% of the employed population working in the sector. The new indicator, derived from the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism, tracks all working-age individuals with paid or self-employment in the tourism sector.

It can be disaggregated by gender and employment type across the ten tourism industries, offering a comprehensive global view of tourism’s employment impact.

The UN Statistical Commission, responsible for setting global statistical standards, was crucial in advancing the indicator. It is the highest body in the global statistical system, bringing together heads of National Statistical Institutes from UN member states and international organisations.

Through this new tourism employment indicator, the UN aims to integrate tourism further into the global development agenda, strengthening its role in achieving the SDGs.

Image: Freelance tourist guides await tourists in central Madrid City on February 27, 2025. Credit: Arnold Pinto