The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) has released its Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2023, revealing a marginal increase in the national unemployment rate from 19.3% to 19.7%.
The report, which directly compares Q2 2023 with the previous quarter, indicates a rise in the number of unemployed individuals aged 15 and above, reaching 794,757. Of particular concern is the uptick in youth unemployment (15-24 years), climbing from 34.4% to 35.2%, affecting 288,964 young people.
While the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) saw a modest increase from 43.9% to 44.9%, the overall employment figures showed a slight rise, with the Employment to Population Ratio (EPR) moving from 35.4% to 36.1%, employing a total of 3,239,965 individuals.
The formal sector (non-agriculture) displayed resilience, growing from 28.4% to 28.8%, employing 931,507 individuals. However, the informal sector (non-agriculture) reported a more substantial increase, rising from 40.5% to 42.5%, with 1,375,493 individuals finding employment. The agriculture sector, on the other hand, witnessed a decline from 24.9% to 23.8%, employing 769,629 individuals.
In the face of these numbers, the Expanded/Relaxed Unemployment Rate, which accounts for discouraged workers, saw a marginal decrease from 46.7% to 45.8% nationally. However, the youth category (15-24 years) experienced a slight increase from 65.3% to 64.7%, while the youth (15-34 years) rate decreased from 55.6% to 54.7%.
Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) statistics revealed a concerning trend, with a slight increase for both the 15-24 and 15-34 age groups, reaching 1,370,309 and 2,394,787, respectively.
The QLFS report underscores the ongoing challenges in Zimbabwe’s labor market, with policymakers and stakeholders urged to address the persistent issue of youth unemployment and disengagement. The data serves as a critical indicator of the economic landscape, prompting a closer examination of strategies for job creation and youth empowerment in the country.
