Unemployment in Pakistan Rises to 7.1%, 8 Million People Affected

ISLAMABAD: The results of the National Labour Force Survey 2024-25 have been released, showing a significant rise in unemployment across Pakistan.

According to the survey, the country’s unemployment rate has increased to 7.1%, up from 6.3% in 2020-21. Over the past five years, unemployment has risen by 0.8%, leaving approximately 8 million people without jobs.

The survey also noted that, based on the 2023 population census, Pakistan’s total population stands at 241.49 million, with 3.3% of the population currently unemployed.

The Labour Force Survey highlighted that the services sector leads in employment generation, followed by the agriculture sector, while the industrial sector ranks third. Around 31.83 million people are employed in the services sector, which also has the highest employment rate at 41.7%.

The agricultural sector provides employment to 25.55 million people, with an employment rate of 33.1%, while the industrial sector employs 19.86 million people, with an employment rate of 25.7%.

The survey further revealed that the average monthly wage per person in Pakistan is PKR 39,042, marking an increase of PKR 15,014 over the past five years. In 2020-21, the average monthly wage was PKR 24,028. Male workers earn an average of PKR 39,302 per month, while female workers earn PKR 37,347.