Egypt’s Labor Force Expands to 34.1 Million as Unemployment Falls to 6.3%

Egypt’s labor market showed continued signs of recovery in 2025, with the unemployment rate declining to 6.3%, down from 6.6% in 2024, according to newly released data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

The annual labor force survey highlighted a steady expansion in workforce participation, alongside improving employment dynamics across several sectors of the economy.

The total labor force rose to 34.154 million individuals in 2025, marking a 6.6% increase from 32.041 million in the previous year. The workforce included 26.683 million men and 7.471 million women, reflecting a persistent gender imbalance.

Geographically, labor participation remained higher in rural areas, which accounted for 19.162 million workers, compared to 14.992 million in urban centers.

Unemployment among  (youth aged 15–29) declined to 13.2%, a notable improvement from 2024 levels. However, the gender disparity remains pronounced: unemployment stood at 8.1% among young men, compared to a significantly higher 33.8% among young women.

A breakdown by age groups shows unemployment rates of 9.8% for ages 15–19, 16.9% for 20–24, and 11.5% for 25–29, with the widest gender gaps evident in younger cohorts.

Among individuals with intermediate, above-intermediate, and university qualifications, unemployment fell to 16.8% from 18.7% in 2024. Yet again, disparities persisted, with rates at 10.1% for men versus 38.3% for women.

The number of employed individuals climbed to 32.018 million in 2025, up 7% from 29.928 million in the previous year. Male workers accounted for 25.692 million of total employment, while female employment reached 6.326 million.

Sectoral distribution shows agriculture and fishing as the largest employer, with 6.574 million workers (20.5% of total employment). Wholesale and retail trade followed with 5.236 million workers, while manufacturing employed 4.311 million. Construction employment, however, declined to 3.631 million workers.

In terms of employment type, 67.7% of workers were wage earners, while 18.1% were self-employed, and 8% worked unpaid within family businesses.

The labor force participation rate increased to 46.2% of the working-age population (15 years and above), compared to 44.2% in 2024. Male participation remained significantly higher at 70.6%, while female participation stood at 20.7%.

Urban participation reached 45.6%, slightly below rural levels at 46.7%, reflecting ongoing structural differences in labor market engagement.

The latest figures point to gradual but steady improvements in Egypt’s labor market, driven by rising employment and broader economic activity. However, structural challenges, particularly gender disparities and youth employment gaps, continue to shape the outlook.

Economists suggest that sustaining this momentum will depend on continued job creation, targeted workforce policies, and efforts to enhance female participation in economic activity.