Pakistan’s latest Labour Survey for 2024-25 reveals that unemployment has risen to 7.1%, up from 6.3% in 2020-21. The survey highlights growing pressures on the job market, estimating around 8 million Pakistanis are currently unemployed.
Chief Statistician Dr. Naeem-ul-Zafar confirmed that the survey data was collected online for the first time, with 196 enumerators and 34 field teams covering the entire country. The Labour Survey is part of multiple national surveys being conducted to meet IMF requirements by the end of 2025.
According to the survey, Pakistan’s population stands at 241.49 million, with over 77.2 million people forming the labour force. Around 43% of the population is of working age, while 53.8% remains economically inactive. Overall, 3.3% of the total population is unemployed.
The Labour Survey indicates that the services sector remains the largest employer, providing jobs to 31.83 million people, or 41.7% of the employed population. The agriculture sector employs 25.53 million people (33.1%), while the industrial sector has 19.86 million workers (25.7%). This shows the continued dominance of services, with agriculture and industry following closely.
The survey also reveals wage trends, reporting an average monthly salary of Rs39,042, up from Rs24,028 in 2020-21. Men earn an average of Rs39,302 per month, while women earn Rs37,347, indicating persistent wage disparities.
Dr. Naeem-ul-Zafar added that the survey results complement other national exercises, such as the household income survey and livestock census, to provide a comprehensive view of Pakistan’s economy and workforce.
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The Labour Survey 2024-25 offers critical insights into employment trends, sector distribution, and wage growth, helping policymakers and economists understand the challenges and opportunities in Pakistan’s labour market.
