The unemployment rate in Zimbabwe decreased by 0.2 percentage points (-2.28 percent) compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, the last two years recorded a significantly higher unemployment rate than the preceding years.The unemployment rate refers to the share of the economically active population currently without work but in search of employment. The unemployment rate does not include economically inactive persons such as the long-term unemployed, children, or retirees.Find more key insights for the unemployment rate in countries like Tanzania and Malawi.

Unemployment Rate in Zimbabwe decreased to 8.60 percent in 2024 from 8.80 percent in 2023. This dataset provides - Zimbabwe Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The youth unemployment rate in Zimbabwe decreased by 0.5 percentage points (-3.45 percent) in 2024 in comparison to the previous year. Nevertheless, the last two years recorded a significantly higher youth unemployment rate than the preceding years.The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce aged 15 to 24 that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.Find more key insights for the youth unemployment rate in countries like Mozambique and Malawi.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Zimbabwe (SLUEM1524ZSZWE) from 1991 to 2024 about Zimbabwe, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Zimbabwe was reported at 8.554 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zimbabwe - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Historical chart and dataset showing Zimbabwe youth unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Zimbabwe was reported at 8.587 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zimbabwe - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data was reported at 5.270 % in 2011. Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 5.270 % from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2011, with 1 observations. Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

zimbabwe - Youth Unemployment Rate for Zimbabwe was 13.99% in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, zimbabwe - Youth Unemployment Rate for Zimbabwe reached a record high of 16.98 in January of 2022 and a record low of 13.99 in January of 2024. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for zimbabwe - Youth Unemployment Rate for Zimbabwe - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Advance Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 4.990 % in 2011. Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Advance Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 4.990 % from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2011, with 1 observations. Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Advance Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an advanced level of education who are unemployed. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

South Africa is expected to register the highest unemployment rate in Africa in 2024, with around ** percent of the country's labor force being unemployed. Djibouti and Eswatini followed, with unemployment reaching roughly ** percent and ** percent, respectively. On the other hand, the lowest unemployment rates in Africa were in Niger and Burundi. The continent’s average stood at roughly ***** percent in the same year. Large shares of youth among the unemployed Due to several educational, socio-demographic, and economic factors, the young population is more likely to face unemployment in most regions of the world. In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in Africa was projected at around ** percent. The situation was particularly critical in certain countries. In 2022, Djibouti recorded a youth unemployment rate of almost ** percent, the highest rate on the continent. South Africa followed, with around ** percent of the young labor force being unemployed. Wide disparities in female unemployment Women are another demographic group often facing high unemployment. In Africa, the female unemployment rate stood at roughly ***** percent in 2023, compared to *** percent among men. The average female unemployment on the continent was not particularly high. However, there were significant disparities among African countries. Djibouti and South Africa topped the ranking once again in 2022, with female unemployment rates of around ** percent and ** percent, respectively. In contrast, Niger, Burundi, and Chad were far below Africa’s average, as only roughly *** percent or lower of the women in the labor force were unemployed.

The statistic shows the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate in EU member states as of November 2024. The source defines youth unemployment as unemployment of those younger than 25 years. In November 2024, the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate in Spain was at 26.6 percent. Youth unemployment rate in EU member states Unemployment is a crucial economic factor for a country; youth unemployment is often examined separately because it tends to be higher than unemployment in older age groups. It comprises the unemployment figures of a country’s labor force aged 15 to 24 years old (i.e. the earliest point at which mandatory school education ends). Typically, teenagers and those in their twenties who are fresh out of education do not find jobs right away, especially if the country’s economy is experiencing difficulties, as can be seen above. Additionally, it also tends to be higher in emerging markets than in industrialized nations. Worldwide, youth unemployment figures have not changed significantly over the last decade, nor are they expected to improve in the next few years. Youth unemployment is most prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa, even though these regions report high unemployment figures regardless (Zimbabwe and Turkmenistan are among the countries with the highest unemployment rates in the world, for example), and are also highly populated areas with a rather weak infrastructure, compared to industrialized regions. In the European Union and the euro area, unemployment in general has been on the rise since 2008, which is due to the economic crisis which caused bankruptcy and financial trouble for many employers, and thus led to considerable job loss, less job offerings, and consequently, to a rise of the unemployment rate. Older workers are struggling to find new jobs despite their experience, and young graduates are struggling to find new jobs, because they have none. All in all, the number of unemployed persons worldwide is projected to rise, this is not down to the economic crisis alone, but also the industrial automation of processes previously performed by workers, as well as rising population figures.

Historical dataset showing Zimbabwe unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

This scatter chart displays birth rate (per 1,000 people) against unemployment (% of total labor force) in Zimbabwe. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

In 2023, South Africa had the highest unemployment rate in the world, at 32.1 percent. Of the 10 countries with the highest unemployment rates, six were in Sub-Saharan Africa. What exactly is unemployment? The unemployment rate is the number of people in the workforce currently looking for jobs but not working. This number does not include students and retirees, as they are not looking for work, nor does it include people who have given up on finding a job (known as discouraged workers). Comparing international unemployment rates can be problematic, however, as different countries use different methodologies when classifying unemployment. For example, Niger records the third lowest unemployment rate in the world, despite often being listed as the least developed country worldwide - this is because the majority of the population engage in subsistence farming, with very little opportunity for paid employment. Causes of unemployment in less developed countries A major driver in unemployment in these countries is conflict. In particular, internally displaced persons (IDPs) want to work, but moving to another part of the country disrupts their business network and moves them into a local economy with different labor demand. Countries with low levels of economic development, as roughly indicated by a low GDP per capita, often have fewer labor market opportunities, leading to high unemployment rates.

Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 9.420 % in 2011. Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 9.420 % from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2011, with 1 observations. Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an advanced level of education who are unemployed. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

2,3 (%) in 2014.

Zimbabwe: Unemployment rate: Pour cet indicateur, La Banque mondiale fournit des données pour la Zimbabwe de 1991 à 2023. La valeur moyenne pour Zimbabwe pendant cette période était de 5.92 pour cent avec un minimum de 4.39 pour cent en 2004 et un maximum de 10.09 pour cent en 2022.

Historical dataset showing Zimbabwe youth unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

The unemployment rate in Mozambique saw no significant changes in 2024 in comparison to the previous year 2023 and remained at around 3.53 percent. The unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed, those aged under 15 years, or retired persons.Find more key insights for the unemployment rate in countries like Zimbabwe and Malawi.