Jobs on the Rise: Egypt Records Significant Decline in Youth and Graduate Unemployment
New figures from CAPMAS released on Wednesday show that Egypt is making steady progress in tackling youth unemployment. The jobless rate among degree holders aged 15-29 fell to 16.8% in 2025, compared to 18.7% in 2024. This improvement was particularly visible among female graduates, where unemployment dropped from 40.8% to 38.3%. As the total number of employed Egyptians climbed to 32.018 million, the data suggests a shift in the employment structure, with more individuals moving into self-employment or business ownership.
[Image: Infographic showing the 6.3% unemployment rate and the growth of the labor force to 34.1M]
The survey also reveals interesting regional disparities. Rural Egypt continues to maintain low unemployment levels at 3.5%, while urban areas stand at 9.8%. Notably, 67.7% of the workforce are now wage-earners, totaling 22.1 million people. Meanwhile, the entrepreneurial spirit is growing, with over 2 million Egyptians now operating their own businesses and employing others—a significant rise from previous quarters. These statistics reflect a resilient labor market capable of absorbing millions of new entrants while simultaneously reducing the overall unemployment gap.
[Egypt Labor Market Snapshot: 2025 vs. 2024]
General Unemployment: 6.3% (Down from 6.6%).
Youth Unemployment (15-29): 13.2% (Down from 14.9%).
Total Labor Force: 34.154 Million (Up 6.6%).
Employed Females: 6.326 Million (Up from 4.939 Million).
Rural vs. Urban: Rural (3.5%) | Urban (9.8%).