Unemployment Rate in Pakistan increased to 5.50 percent in 2024 from 5.40 percent in 2023. This dataset provides - Pakistan Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, the unemployment rate in Pakistan was at approximately 5.41 percent, a slight decrease from 5.49 percent the previous year. Unemployment as an economic key indicatorThe unemployment rate of a country represents the share of people without a job in the country’s labor force, i.e. unemployed persons among those who are able and/or willing to work. Among other factors, it takes population growth into account, and thus increases in the labor force, as well as the age of the population. A high unemployment rate usually indicates economic troubles, with a popular example being Greece, where the unemployment rate skyrocketed from 7.76 percent in 2008 to 27.5 percent as a result of the Great Recession. From plowshares to keyboardsWhile Pakistan’s unemployment slumped below the one percent mark in 2010, it is now on the rise again and currently standing at just over four percent. Traditionally, most Pakistanis work in agriculture however, the lion’s share of the country’s GDP is generated by services, like tourism, banking, and IT. While agriculture is still important for Pakistan’s economy, the services sector is gaining ground in the country, and more and more people are moving to urban areas from the countryside to find jobs in the cities.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Pakistan was reported at 7.325 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The youth unemployment rate in Pakistan increased by 0.2 percentage points (+2.06 percent) compared to the previous year. In total, the youth unemployment rate amounted to 9.86 percent in 2024. This increase was preceded by a declining youth unemployment rate.The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the economically active population aged 15 to 24 currently without work but in search of employment. The youth unemployment rate does not include economically inactive persons such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.Find more key insights for the youth unemployment rate in countries like Nepal and Afghanistan.

Pakistan: Unemployment rate forecast: The latest value from 2030 is 5 percent, unchanged from 5 percent in 2029. In comparison, the world average is 6.28 percent, based on data from 100 countries. Historically, the average for Pakistan from 1983 to 2030 is 5.84 percent. The minimum value, 3.07 percent, was reached in 1987 while the maximum of 8.5 percent was recorded in 2023.

Key information about Pakistan Unemployment Rate

• Pakistan Unemployment Rate dropped to 6.30% in Jun 2021, from the previously reported figure of 6.90% in Jun 2019.
• Pakistan Unemployment Rate is updated yearly, available from Jun 1980 to Jun 2021, with an average rate of 5.80%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 8.27% in Jun 2003 and a record low of 3.04% in Jun 1986.
• The data is reported by reported by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
• In the latest reports, Pakistan Population reached 241.50 million people in Jun 2023.

Pakistan: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2023 is 5.5 percent, a decline from 5.55 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 6.99 percent, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for Pakistan from 1991 to 2023 is 1.89 percent. The minimum value, 0.4 percent, was reached in 2007 while the maximum of 6.34 percent was recorded in 2021.

In 2022, 36.43 percent of the workforce in Pakistan worked in the agricultural sector, about a quarter worked in industry, and 38.05 percent in the services sector. The primary sectorThe most common breakdown of a country’s economy is into three sectors; the primary sector, which includes agriculture, raw materials, fishing, and hunting, the secondary sector, which is also called the industrial sector and includes manufacturing, and the tertiary sector, which encompasses intangible goods and services, like financial services, tourism, or telecommunications. Usually, an advanced economy focuses on the services sector, while in a developing economy, the primary sector is still prevalent. In Pakistan, agriculture plays an important role in trade and production, and most Pakistanis are employed in the agricultural sector – however, the services sector generates the lion’s share of GDP Is Pakistan on the verge of being a developed country?Typically, a developed country shifts GDP generation and employment to intangible goods, which also often means that its citizens move to the city, away from rural areas. In Pakistan, urbanization progresses slowly, and most inhabitants live in rural areas. One reason for this is Pakistan’s vast arable land area, which allows for the production and export of raw materials. To be a developed country, Pakistan still needs to put in some work and improve the standard of living and infrastructure, among other factors.

Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force with advanced education) in Pakistan was reported at 16.15 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Unemployment with advanced education (% of total unemployment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Pakistan was reported at 9.858 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Pakistan was reported at 25.59 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Employment in industry (% of total employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Pakistan: Youth unemployment, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2023 is 9.65 percent, a decline from 9.68 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 16.08 percent, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for Pakistan from 1991 to 2023 is 3.5 percent. The minimum value, 0.82 percent, was reached in 2007 while the maximum of 11.03 percent was recorded in 2021.

In 2024, the unemployment rate in Pakistan was at approximately 5.47 percent, a slight increase from 5.41 percent the previous year. Unemployment as an economic key indicatorThe unemployment rate of a country represents the share of people without a job in the country’s labor force, i.e. unemployed persons among those who are able and/or willing to work. Among other factors, it takes population growth into account, and thus increases in the labor force, as well as the age of the population. A high unemployment rate usually indicates economic troubles, with a popular example being Greece, where the unemployment rate skyrocketed from 7.76 percent in 2008 to 27.5 percent as a result of the Great Recession. From plowshares to keyboardsWhile Pakistan’s unemployment slumped below the one percent mark in 2010, it is now on the rise again and currently standing at just over four percent. Traditionally, most Pakistanis work in agriculture however, the lion’s share of the country’s GDP is generated by services, like tourism, banking, and IT. While agriculture is still important for Pakistan’s economy, the services sector is gaining ground in the country, and more and more people are moving to urban areas from the countryside to find jobs in the cities.

Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in Pakistan was reported at 76.39 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Employment to population ratio, 15+, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate) in Pakistan was reported at 9.157 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Unemployment, female (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Pakistan was reported at 6.338 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Unemployment, total (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Key information about Pakistan population

• The Pakistan population reached 241.5 million people in Jun 2023, compared with the previously reported figure of 229.2 million people in Jun 2022
• The data reached an all-time high of 241.5 million people in Jun 2023 and a record low of 37.5 million people in Jun 1950

CEIC extends history for annual Population. The Ministry of Planning, Development & Reforms provides Mid-year Population. Population prior to 1981 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund. Population is in annual frequency, ending in June of each year.


Further information about Pakistan population data

• In the latest reports, Pakistan Unemployment Rate dropped to 6.3 % in Jun 2021
• Monthly earnings of the Pakistan population was 150.2 USD in Jun 2021
• Pakistan Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 32.3 % in Dec 2021

Key information about Pakistan Labour Force Participation Rate

• Pakistan Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 32.3 % in Dec 2021, compared with 32.2 % in the previous year.
• Pakistan Labour Force Participation Rate is updated yearly, available from Dec 1990 to Dec 2021, with an average rate of 30.4 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 33.0 % in Dec 2010 and a record low of 27.5 % in Dec 1996.
• Pakistan Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, Pakistan Population reached 229.2 million people in Jun 2022.
• Unemployment Rate of Pakistan dropped to 6.3 % in Jun 2021.
• The country's Monthly Earnings stood at 150.2 USD in Jun 2021.

In 2024, the unemployment rate in Bangladesh was at approximately 4.68 percent. After a decrease from 2010 through 2011, Bangladesh’s unemployment has been steady at around 4.5 percent. Stuck in the middle? In the Asia-Pacific region, Bangladesh’s economy is ranked somewhere in the middle, lower than Pakistan, but even higher than New Zealand. The same is true for gross national income (GNI) and about the same for unemployment (where it ranks eighth, behind China, Australia, and Afghanistan). But Bangladesh’s figures are not always seemingly mediocre: It is one of the most densely populated countries with one of the largest populations worldwide. On the way up Most of Bangladesh’s workforce is employed in the tertiary sector, which is gaining workers while the share of employed people in the primary sector, including agriculture, is decreasing. The country’s GDP is on a steady upswing, while inflation seems to recover and level off at around 5 percent for now. Bangladesh is, after all, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

As of the first quarter of 2025, the unemployment rate for people of white ethnicity in the United Kingdom was 3.7 percent, the lowest of the provided ethnic groups in this quarter. By contrast, the unemployment rate for people in the Pakistani ethnic group was 13.1 percent.