Mozambique’s Unemployment Rate Rises by 1.8% in Fourth Quarter of 2024

Mozambique’s unemployment rose by 1.8% in Q4 2024, with 190,558 unemployed individuals. The central region exhibited the highest unemployment rates. Employment decreased by 13.7%, and foreign labor hiring increased by 2.1%. There was also a notable rise in illegal foreign worker suspensions.

The unemployment rate in Mozambique rose by 1.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024, with 190,558 individuals unemployed compared to 187,149 in the previous quarter, as reported by the government. The Labour Market Information Bulletin indicates that around 91,215 individuals sought their first job during this period, while others were looking for new employment opportunities.

The regional unemployment statistics reveal that the central region holds the highest unemployment rate at 36.1%, followed by the southern region with 33.4% and the northern region at 30.5%. When considering gender, the southern region has 38.1% of female job seekers; the central region follows with 36.9%, and the northern region stands at 25.0%.

The data also underscores that 47.9% of registered unemployed were seeking their first job, with 22.9% from Nampula province, 14% from Tete, and 11.5% from Zambézia. Moreover, 17.5% of new job registrations occurred in Nampula, followed by Tete and Maputo at 14.1% and 13.4% respectively.

Furthermore, employment figures indicate a decline of 13.7% in new job registrations, with 103,834 positions created in the last quarter, down from 120,252. The central region recorded the highest share of new jobs at 43.6%, followed by the north at 30.8% and the south at 25.6%, with Nampula, Sofala, and Gaza displaying the highest percentages.

Of the newly created jobs, 33.3% were occupied by women. The hiring of foreign labor increased by 2.1% in the last quarter, totaling 5,426 foreign workers compared to 5,316 in the previous quarter. The wholesale and retail trade sector employed the most foreign workers at 43.8%, followed by construction and mining at 14.8% and 11.5%, respectively.

Additionally, the report notes that the number of illegal foreign workers suspended rose by 29.4% to 22 cases in the last quarter, with Maputo city having the highest occurrence at 11 cases. Most of the suspended workers were engaged in commerce, restaurants, and hotels (63.6%), followed by construction and public works (22.7%) and manufacturing (13.7%).

In summary, Mozambique has experienced a rise in unemployment by 1.8% in the last quarter of 2024, leading to a significant number of individuals seeking their first job. The statistics reveal regional and gender disparities in employment opportunities, with the central region being most affected. Additionally, there has been a notable decline in job creation, and an increase in foreign labor hiring indicates evolving dynamics within the labor market. Furthermore, issues related to illegal foreign workers persist, warranting attention from authorities.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com