Egypt: total labor force 2023| ��ƽ��

Total labor force in Egypt from 2010 to 2023 (in millions)

Characteristic	Labor force in millions
2023	33.43
2022	32.61
2021	31.45
2020	27.87
2019	28.04
2018	28.25
2017	28.75
2016	29.25
2015	28.96
2014	29.08
2013	28.72
2012	28.2
2011	27.81
2010	27.56

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Sources

Release date

May 2024

More information

Region

Egypt

Survey time period

2010 to 2020

Age group

15 years and older

Supplementary notes

Figures were rounded.

Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

The source adds:
"Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave."

Citation formats

As of 2023, the labor force in Egypt consisted of nearly 33.4 million people, which was higher than the previous year. In general, the number of currently employed or unemployed people seeking work increased, reaching its peak in 2023. Between 2016 and 2019, it followed an overall slight declining trend. Furthermore, the most significant proportion in 2022 had completed a technical or general secondary education degree.

A huge gender gap in labor participation.

The Egyptian labor market faced several obstacles, one of which is gender disparity. For instance, only 16.5 percent of Egyptian women were economically active. In contrast, this figure was much higher for men between 15 years and older at nearly 71.3 percent. In addition, the unemployment rate was higher for women reaching 17.3 percent as of the second quarter of 2023. Alternatively, the male unemployment rate was significantly lower at close to five percent.  

An informal market that absorbs the majority of employment.

The country has a large informal market. In particular, almost two-thirds of the employment occurred in the shadow market in 2019, putting burden on the Egyptian economy. Not surprisingly, the gender gap persists in the informal sector. In 2020, out of the 17.5 million working without official documentation in the country, a staggering 89 percent were men.