The official unemployment rate declined to 11.98% of the total workforce in the second quarter (Q2) of the current year, down from 12% in Q1 of the same year, and 12.5% in Q2 2016, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
Workforce
In its recent quarterly report issued on Tuesday, CAPMAS stated that the total workforce in Egypt reached 29.183 million people in the second quarter between April and June 2017, up by 33,000 (0.1%) from the first quarter of 2017, and up by 651,000 (2.3%) from the second quarter of 2016.
The unemployed
Moreover, CAPMAS added that the number of unemployed citizens reached 3.496 million people, representing 11.98% of the total workforce. This is down by 7,000 from the first quarter of 2017 and 64,000 (1.8%) from the second quarter of 2016.
Unemployed youth
The number of unemployed youth aged 15-29 reached 79.6% of the total unemployed workforce. About 7.6% of total unemployment among the youth were between 15-19 years old, while in the age group between 20 and 24, CAPMAS reported 32.3% as unemployed. Finally, of the total unemployed youth, 39.7% were between 25 and 29 years old.
Unemployed according to residence
Meanwhile, unemployment in urban areas stood at 13.6%, down from 13.7% in the first quarter of 2017 and 14.1% in the second quarter of 2016.
The unemployment rate in rural areas reached 10.7% of the total workforce there, down slightly from 10.8% in the first quarter of 2017 and 11.2% in the second quarter of 2016.
Additionally, CAPMAS explained that 92.8% of unemployed workforce were university graduates, average and above average certificate holders. This includes 52.3% of total average and above-average certificate holders and 40.5% of university graduates.
Employed
In contrast, CAPMAS said that 25.687 million people were employed in the second quarter of 2017, up by 40,000 (0.2%) from the first quarter of the same year and 715,000 (2.9%) from the second quarter of 2016.
The number of employed men reached 20.665 million, up by 43,000 (0.2%) from the first quarter of 2017 and 586,000 (2.9%) from the second quarter of 2016.
Meanwhile, the number of employed females reached 5.022 million. This is a decrease of 3,000 (0.1%) from the first quarter of 2017, yet up by 129,000 (2.6%) from the second quarter of 2016.
Labour-attractive activities
As for the most important economic activities that attracted the largest percentage of entrants in the labour market or those who move from other activities, CAPMAS stated that the wholesale, retail, and repair activity of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and maintenance. This sector attracted some 56,000 more employees in the second quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of the year. This, however, was down by 46,000 when compared to the second quarter of 2016.
It added that health and social work activities has attracted 26,000 more employees compared to the first quarter of 2017, and 63,000 more workers compared to the second quarter of 2016.
Furthermore, CAMPAS said that the activity of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supplies attracted 4,000 more employees compared to the first quarter of 2017 and 6,000 more compared to the second quarter of 2016. CAPMAS noted that the constructions and building activity attracted 3,000 more employees compared to the first quarter of 2017 and 463,000 workers up from the second quarter of 2016.
Employees according to the financial situation
According to CAPMAS, 17.264 million were employed with fixed salaries, accounting for 67.2% of the total employed workforce, while 2.731 million, or 10.6%, were business owners.
Furthermore, 3.331 million people were working as independent professionals, equivalent to 13% of the total workforce, while the number of citizens working in family projects for no official wage amounted to 2.361 million workers, or 9.2% of the workforce.
Contribution to economic activity
The rate of contribution to economic activity reached 45.4% of the total population during the second quarter, down from 45.8% of the first quarter of 2017 and 46.1% in the second quarter of 2016. Male contribution rate registered 69.2%, against 21% from females.
The report added that the rate of urban region contribution reached 44.4%, compared to 46.1% in rural areas. The age group of people aged 40-49 registered the highest rate of contribution to the economic activity with 62.9%.
CAPMAS also noted that the agriculture and fishing sectors accounted for the largest share of the workforce, employing 5.246 million people, 20.4% of the total employed workforce.
It also stated that construction and building came in second place, with a number of employees of 3.510 million people, accounting for 13.7% of the total workforce. Meanwhile, workers in the wholesale and retail trade reached 3.350 million, which is 13% of the total workforce.
Transformation industries workers reached 3.207 million people, accounting for 12.5% of the total workforce, while the number of workers in the fields of transportation and storage registered 1.983 million, which is 7.7% of the total workforce, according to CAPMAS.
