Unemployment was down 0.4 percentage points throughout 2024: Egypt’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.6% of the total workforce in 2024, down 0.4 percentage points from 2023, according to data from state statistics agency Capmas. Egypt’s labor force grew 2.9% to reach 32.0 mn people last year, compared to 31.2 mn in 2023, while the labor force participation rate rose to 44.2% in 2024, up from 43.4% the year prior.

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Youth unemployment saw the biggest falls in unemployment: Unemployment among people aged 15-29 came in at 14.9% in 2024, down 1.0 percentage point from 2023. For the age group, female unemployment stood at 37.1%, compared to 9.8% for men. But among degree holders, female unemployment dropped to 40.8% from 45.3% a year earlier.

Despite increased participation in the labor force, women across all age groups are still underrepresented: Women’s total participation in the labour market reached 16.9% in 2024, a whole 1.0 percentage point jump from the year before. However, male participation reached 70.3% in 2024 — more than four times that of women.

Unemployment is falling faster in rural areas: Urban unemployment recorded 9.6% last year, down from 9.9% in 2023. In rural areas, the rate fell to 4.2% from 4.8%. Female unemployment in rural areas (12.4%) remains significantly lower than in cities (21.8%), thanks in part to women’s participation in agriculture.

Agriculture still leads the country’s main employer: The agriculture and fishing sector employed 18.7% of the workforce, followed by wholesale and retail trade (15.5%), construction (13.5%), and manufacturing (13.2%).

REMEMBER: The unemployment rate excludes working-age individuals who are not actively seeking jobs or are unable to work. Labor force participation measures the share of the population aged 15 years and older that is either employed or actively looking for work.

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