Pakistan’s latest National Labour Force Survey 2024-25 reveals that unemployment has increased to 7.1%, marking a notable rise in joblessness and highlighting shifting trends in the country’s employment landscape. The findings come amid ongoing economic reforms and commitments linked to the IMF programme, which officials say remain on track.
Survey Shows Job Market Under Pressure
Chief Statistician Dr. Naeem-ul-Zafar announced that the government will fulfil three major IMF conditions by December 2025. He noted that the livestock census has already been completed, the labour force survey is being released now, and the household income survey will be published next month.
For the first time, the labour data was collected digitally, with 196 enumerators and 34 field formations conducting the nationwide survey.
The report shows unemployment rising from 6.3% in 2020-21 to 7.1% in 2024-25, an increase of 0.8 percentage points over five years. According to estimates, nearly 8 million Pakistanis are currently without work.
Labour Force Composition and Wage Trends
Pakistan’s latest census places the national population at 241.49 million, with over 77.2 million people forming the labour force. The survey shows that 43% of the population is of working age, while 53.8% remains inactive. Overall, 3.3% of the entire population is unemployed.
Sector-wise employment distribution remains consistent with past trends:
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Services sector leads with 31.83 million workers (41.7%).
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Agriculture sector ranks second, employing 25.53 million people (33.1%).
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Industrial sector follows with 19.86 million workers (25.7%).
The report also highlights rising wages. Pakistan’s average monthly wage has reached Rs39,042, up significantly from Rs24,028 in 2020-21, marking an increase of Rs15,014.
However, income inequality persists:
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Men earn an average of Rs39,302 per month.
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Women earn an average of Rs37,347 per month.
The latest survey paints a mixed picture—rising wages on one hand, but a tightening job market on the other, indicating a need for stronger employment strategies and inclusive economic policies.
