Zambia's Unemployment Rate Drops To 9.9%

by Saviour Simulindi

Zambia’s national unemployment rate has dropped from 12.9 percent in 2024 to 9.9 percent in 2025, while the employment-to-population ratio increased from 33.1 percent to 37.1 percent, according to the 2025 Labour Force Survey and Employment and Earnings Inquiry released in Lusaka on October 16, 2026.

The survey, conducted by the Zambia Statistics Agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, estimates that 4.76 million Zambians were employed in 2025, out of a working-age population of 12.8 million people.

Despite the improvement, youth unemployment remains a concern, with the rate among young people aged 15 to 24 standing at 23.9 percent, while approximately 2.09 million people in the same age group were not in employment, education or training.

The survey also indicates that about 3.02 million people were engaged in informal employment, accounting for 63.4 percent of total employment, highlighting the need for more formal jobs, improved income security and expanded social protection.

Statistician General Sheila S. Mudenda said the findings provide important information for addressing labour market challenges and ensuring that economic growth translates into productive employment and better livelihoods, particularly for young people, women and persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary Zechariah Luhanga said the findings would help Government align investment, skills development and workforce preparation with labour market demands under the Grow Zambia Agenda, including through apprenticeships, work-based learning programmes and the development of a Critical Skills List.