By Francis Chipalo Zambia’s labour market has recorded positive gains, with the national unemployment rate falling from 12.9 percent in 2024 to 9.9 percent in 2025. According to the latest report, the employment to population ratio increased by four percent to 37.1 percent last year, from 33.1 percent in 2024. The findings were announced during […]

By Francis Chipalo

Zambia’s labour market has recorded positive gains, with the national unemployment rate falling from 12.9 percent in 2024 to 9.9 percent in 2025.

According to the latest report, the employment to population ratio increased by four percent to 37.1 percent last year, from 33.1 percent in 2024.

The findings were announced during the official dissemination of the 2025 Labour Survey and Employment and Earnings Inquiry by the Zambia Statistics Agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Ministry of Finance and National Planning in Lusaka on Friday.

According to the survey, labour force participation rose from 38.0 percent in 2024 to 41.2 percent in 2025, reflecting increased participation in the labour market.

The survey estimates that 4.76 million Zambians were employed in 2025, out of an estimated working-age population of 12.8 million people aged 15 years and above. Approximately 5.28 million were in the labour force, while 523,751 were unemployed.

Youth unemployment among persons aged 15 to 24 years was at 23.9 percent, while the rate among the nationally defined youth population aged 15 to 35 years stood at 14.2 percent.

Approximately 2.09 million young people aged 15 to 24 years were not in employment, education nor training.

The survey further estimates that 3.02 million people were in informal employment, representing 63.4 percent of total employment.

The improvement in key indicators provides an important picture of Zambia’s employment landscape as Government pursues economic growth, job creation and improved livelihoods under the Grow Zambia Agenda.

Statistician General Sheila Mudenda said in a statement that the Labour Force Survey and Employment and Earnings Inquiry provide critical information on employment, unemployment, earnings and working conditions to help Government and stakeholders identify emerging opportunities and challenges.

She said the findings show the importance of ensuring that economic growth translates into productive employment and better livelihoods, particularly for young people, women and persons with disabilities.
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Mudenda said with millions of young people not in employment, education nor training, there is need to enhance transition from education and vocational training into employment.

She added that with the informal sector accounting for the lion’s share of employment, there is need to transition to formal employment for income security, universal access to social security and improved productivity.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary Zechariah Luhanga said the labour market information will help Government align investment, skills development and workforce preparation with demands of Zambia’s growing economy.

“For the Grow Zambia Agenda, we must assess how investment and production translate into productive employment and better livelihoods. These reports should help us identify sectors and groups requiring attention, and provide benchmarks for monitoring progress,” Luhanga said.

Luhanga said workforce preparation must begin alongside investment planning, as skills development takes time and must respond to competencies required by employers.

He added that findings should inform the Critical Skills List, apprenticeships and other work-based learning programmes through collaboration with the Ministry of Technology and Science, the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA), the Skills Advisory Committee and sector skills bodies.
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