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.

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.

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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for Zimbabwe (SLEMPTOTLSPZSZWE) from 1991 to 2024 about Zimbabwe, employment-population ratio, employment, and population.

In 2024, the labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64 in Zimbabwe remained nearly unchanged at around ***** percent. Yet 2024 saw the lowest labor participation rate in Zimbabwe with ***** percent. The labor force participation rate is the share of the population aged 15 and over who are currently employed or actively searching for work. It is calculated by dividing the economically active population aged 15 and over by the total population aged 15 and over.Find more key insights for the labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64 in countries like Mauritius and Madagascar.

Zimbabwe Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Aged 50-54 data was reported at 80.921 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 80.053 % for 2022. Zimbabwe Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Aged 50-54 data is updated yearly, averaging 80.921 % from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 92.094 % in 2014 and a record low of 73.700 % in 1982. Zimbabwe Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Aged 50-54 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Labour Organization. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.ILO.LFS: Labour Force Participation Rate: By Sex and Age: Annual.

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.

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.

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) in Zimbabwe was reported at 64.93 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zimbabwe - Labor participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) - 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.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) in Zimbabwe was reported at 59.62 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zimbabwe - Labor participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) - 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;

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

Zimbabwe ZW: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data was reported at 78.542 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 78.209 % for 2016. Zimbabwe ZW: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 75.892 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 78.542 % in 2017 and a record low of 64.111 % in 1999. Zimbabwe ZW: Labour Force Participation Rate: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ 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.WDI: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

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.

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.

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Zimbabwe was reported at 52.53 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zimbabwe - Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Zimbabwe: Female labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2023 is 60.39 percent, an increase from 60.07 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 51.07 percent, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for Zimbabwe from 1991 to 2023 is 60.54 percent. The minimum value, 59.8 percent, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 60.92 percent was recorded in 2007.