Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.0%

06-Oct-2026

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The labour force participation rate of the economically active population increased to 50 per cent in the second quarter of 2026. The number of unemployed persons has risen to 340,240, while the country’s unemployment rate has increased to 4.0 per cent, according to the Department of Census and Statistics.

The Department has released its Labour Force Survey report for the second quarter of 2026. The overall unemployment rate during the second quarter stood at 4.0 per cent, representing a slight change compared with the previous year.

Of the 8.24 million people employed in the country, 49.2 per cent are engaged in the services sector, 27.2 per cent in industry and 23.4 per cent in agriculture. Employment in the services and industrial sectors has increased compared with the previous year.

The unemployment rate among young people stands at 17.8 per cent. Accordingly, the total number of unemployed persons has increased to 340,240, while the national unemployment rate has risen to 4.0 per cent.

A total of 858,286 people are classified as economically inactive. This category includes students, elderly persons, those engaged in household activities, patients and retired persons. They are not included in the category of unemployed persons.