Unemployment Increase in 2024

According to a report from the High Commission for Planning on the labor market, the unemployment rate rose to 13.3% in 2024, up from 13% in 2023 (+0.3 points). This increase affects both rural areas, where the rate grew from 6.3% to 6.8% (+0.5 points), and urban areas, where it slightly increased from 16.8% to 16.9% (+0.1 points).

The number of unemployed people increased by 58,000, reaching 1,638,000 in 2024 (+4%). This growth includes 42,000 additional unemployed individuals in urban areas and 15,000 in rural areas.

Unemployment among women saw a significant rise (+1.1 points) to 19.4%, while the male unemployment rate increased slightly from 11.5% to 11.6% (+0.1 points). The increase affects all age groups, with a notable rise among youth aged 15 to 24 (from 35.8% to 36.7%).

Regarding qualifications, the unemployment rate among degree holders remained stable at 19.6%, while that of non-degree holders rose to 5.2% (+0.3 points). The highest increase was observed among vocational training graduates (+1.5 points to 23.9%).

The proportion of recently unemployed individuals increased, and the average unemployment duration dropped from 32 to 31 months. Additionally, 50.7% of unemployed people had previously worked.

Underemployment also increased, reaching 10.1% nationwide (+0.3 points). The agricultural and construction sectors recorded the highest rises.