Figures released by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) showed the rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from the previous quarter, covering October to December.
The labour force grew by 0.3 percent quarter-on-quarter to 34.829 million people, up from 34.727 million in the third quarter; a net increase of 102,000. CAPMAS stated that the change reflected 179,000 additional employed persons alongside a decrease of 77,000 unemployed.
The data points to relative labour market stability at the end of 2025, although unemployment among women remains significantly higher than among men.
Labour force
The labour force included 26.903 million men and 7.926 million women. Urban areas accounted for 15.193 million workers, compared with 19.636 million in rural areas.
Unemployment trends
The number of unemployed people fell to 2.152 million—including 1.019 million men and 1.133 million women—down 3.6 percent from 2.229 million in the previous quarter.
On an annual basis, however, unemployment rose slightly by 22,000 compared with the fourth quarter of 2024.
Male unemployment declined to 3.8 percent from 4.0 percent in the previous quarter and 3.9 percent a year earlier. Female unemployment dropped to 14.3 percent from 15 percent in the third quarter and 16.6 percent a year earlier.
By residence, urban unemployment stood at 9.7 percent, down from 10.1 percent in the previous quarter but higher than 8.9 percent a year earlier. Rural unemployment fell to 3.4 percent from 3.6 percent in the third quarter and 4.5 percent in the same period of 2024.
Unemployment by education
People with intermediate, above-intermediate, and university qualifications made up 82.1 percent of the unemployed in the fourth quarter, down from 83.1 percent in the previous quarter.
Those with education below the intermediate level accounted for 17.9 percent, up from 16.9 percent in the third quarter and 15.9 percent a year earlier.
Intermediate and above-intermediate graduates represented 37.1 percent of the unemployed, down from 39.7 percent in the previous quarter. University graduates and postgraduates accounted for 45.0 percent, compared with 43.4 percent in the third quarter and 44.9 percent a year earlier.
Employment figures
Total employment rose to 32.677 million, a 0.6 percent increase from 32.498 million in the previous quarter.
Urban employment reached 13.716 million, while rural employment totalled 18.961 million.
Paid employees working for cash wages numbered 22.118 million, representing 67.7 percent of total employment, down from 68.8 percent in the third quarter and 71.0 percent a year earlier.
Employers who run businesses and hire others rose to 2.022 million, accounting for 6.2 percent of employment, up from 5.0 percent in the previous quarter and 4.1 percent a year earlier.
Self-employed workers without employees stood at 5.935 million, or 18.1 percent of total employment, compared with 19.2 percent in the third quarter and 20.6 percent a year earlier.
Unpaid family workers reached 2.602 million, representing 8.0 percent of employed persons, up from 7.0 percent in the previous quarter and 4.3 percent a year earlier.
Economic participation
The economic participation rate for those aged 15 and above was 46.7 percent, slightly down from 46.9 percent in the third quarter but higher than 45.5 percent during the same period in 2024.
Male participation stood at 70.8 percent, compared with 71.4 percent in the previous quarter and 71.3 percent a year earlier. Female participation rose to 21.7 percent from 21.3 percent in the third quarter and 18.5 percent in the same period of 2024.
Participation measured 45.7 percent in urban areas and 47.5 percent in rural areas.
Employment by economic activity
Agriculture, forestry, logging, and fishing remained the largest employers, with 6.562 million workers, or 20.1 percent of total employment.
Wholesale and retail trade, along with vehicle repair, employed 5.450 million people (16.7 percent), followed by manufacturing with 4.714 million workers (14.4 percent).
Construction accounted for 3.480 million workers (10.6 percent), while transport and storage employed 2.681 million (8.2 percent).
CAPMAS calculates the unemployment rate by dividing the number of unemployed by the total labour force. Meanwhile, the economic participation rate measures the labour force aged 15 and above as a share of the population in the same age group.
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