Zimbabwe: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe's unemployment rate was 20.7% in the second quarter of 2025, or 833,527 people aged 16 and over, according to ZIMSTAT's Quarterly Labour Force Survey report. Youth unemployment (ages 15–24) was 39.3%.

The expanded rate, which adds the potential labour force to the unemployed, was 37.1%. Of 3.19 million employed people, 58.5% worked in the informal sector and 35.8% in the formal sector. Only 47.1% of the working-age population was in the labour force. ZIMSTAT publishes later reports, including a quarterly employment index for early 2026, on its labour statistics page.

Official sources: Quarterly Labour Force Survey report · labour statistics page

How many young people in Zimbabwe are not working or studying?

47.6% of young people aged 15–24 in Zimbabwe, about 1.27 million, were not in employment, education or training (NEET) in the second quarter of 2025, according to ZIMSTAT's Quarterly Labour Force Survey report. For ages 15–35 the share was 49.2%, or 2.24 million people.

The NEET rate counts young people who are neither working nor studying, so it includes those not looking for work. Youth unemployment for ages 15–24 was 39.3% on the standard measure and 58.2% on the expanded measure. ZIMSTAT has also published a thematic report on education and the labour market based on the same survey.

Official sources: Quarterly Labour Force Survey report

Are wages rising in Zimbabwe?

Average earnings in Zimbabwe's formal sector rose 31.7% in the year to the first quarter of 2026, according to ZIMSTAT's Employment Index report, which put the earnings index at 168.9 against a base of 100 in the third quarter of 2024. After allowing for inflation, the real earnings index was 91.7, 26.0% higher than a year earlier.

A real index below 100 means earnings had not kept up with prices since the base period. The employment volume index was 99.1, 1.2% lower than a year earlier. The index uses employer surveys and public payroll records, so it covers mainly formal jobs and leaves out agriculture.

Official sources: Employment Index report

Does education help people find work in Zimbabwe?

70% of working-age Zimbabweans with higher education were employed in the second quarter of 2025, compared with 12% of those who had never been to school, according to ZIMSTAT's thematic report on education from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey. 56.2% of workers with higher education had formal jobs, against 1.9% of those with no schooling.

Unemployment was highest among people with secondary education, at 23.6%, and 39.7% among those aged 16 to 25 with secondary education. 63.1% of the working-age population had secondary school as their highest level and 9.5% higher education. Labour force participation was 59.2% for men and 36.9% for women.

Official sources: thematic report on education

How many Zimbabweans work for themselves or their family?

68.2% of workers in Zimbabwe were in vulnerable employment in 2025, according to modelled International Labour Organization estimates published by the World Bank. The share has stayed close to 68% since 2020.

Vulnerable employment counts own-account workers, who work for themselves without employees, and contributing family workers, who help in a family business or farm. The estimates are modelled from national labour force surveys and include farming, so they are not the same as ZIMSTAT's measures of informal employment from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey.

Official sources: World Bank

What is Zimbabwe's unemployment rate?

9.3%: that is the unemployment rate in Zimbabwe for 2025, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 4.6% (2005) to 10.1% (2022). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 5.2%, and Zimbabwe placed 13th highest of 45. Worldwide: 35th of 174.

What is the youth unemployment rate in Zimbabwe?

The ILO puts unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Zimbabwe at 15.5% in 2025. The peak was 17.0% in 2022 and the low 6.9% in 2014. It is 15th highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 8.8%. World rank, highest first: 69th of 174.

What is the labour force participation rate in Zimbabwe?

According to the ILO, the labour force participation rate in Zimbabwe was 67.7% in 2025. The peak was 67.8% in 2023 and the low 64.7% in 2020. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 64.3%; Zimbabwe is 17th highest of 45. Worldwide: 39th of 174.

How many women in Zimbabwe are working or looking for work?

The ILO puts the labour force participation rate for women in Zimbabwe at 62.2% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2023, at 62.2%; its low point was 2020, at 59.4%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 57.3%; Zimbabwe is 17th highest of 45. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 34th highest.

How many people in Zimbabwe are employed?

The ILO puts the employment to population ratio in Zimbabwe at 61.4% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2014, at 63.0%; its low point was 2022, at 58.6%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 58.8%; Zimbabwe is 21st highest of 45. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 62nd highest.

How many workers in Zimbabwe are self-employed or family workers?

The ILO puts the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Zimbabwe at 68.2% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 66.9% (2005) to 68.9% (2022). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 67.6%, and Zimbabwe placed 22nd highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 30th of 174.

What share of jobs in Zimbabwe are salaried?

According to the ILO, the share of workers who are paid employees in Zimbabwe was 29.2% in 2025. The peak was 30.5% in 2005 and the low 28.2% in 2022. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 29.0%, and Zimbabwe placed 22nd highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 144th of 174.