In the fourth quarter of 2024, Mozambique’s unemployment rate increased by 1.8%, reaching 190,558 registered unemployed individuals. The report highlighted regional disparities in unemployment rates and a notable decline in job creation, with an overall decrease of 13.7% in registered employment. Additionally, there was a rise in foreign labor hiring and cases of illegal foreign workers.
In Mozambique, unemployment rose by 1.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024, resulting in a total of 190,558 registered unemployed individuals, up from 187,149 in the previous quarter. This information was disclosed in the latest Labour Market Information Bulletin by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, which was accessed by Lusa.
The report indicates that a total of 91,215 people sought their first job during the last quarter of 2024, with the remaining individuals attempting to transition to new employment. The unemployment distribution is as follows: the central region reported the highest unemployment rate at 36.1%, followed by the southern region at 33.4%, while the northern region recorded the lowest at 30.5%.
In terms of gender-specific data, the southern region had the highest percentage of female jobseekers at 38.1%, followed by 36.9% in the central region and 25.0% in the northern region. Notably, 47.9% of the registered unemployed were searching for their first job, with Nampula province having the largest group at 22.9%. The other significant regions were Tete and Zambézia, with 14% and 11.5% respectively.
The bulletin further reveals a decline in overall registered employment of 13.7% in the same quarter, with only 103,834 new jobs recorded in contrast to 120,252 in the preceding quarter. The central region maintained the most significant share of new employment at 43.6%. Provinces such as Nampula (51.2%), Sofala (40.9%), and Gaza (39.6%) exhibited the highest job availability.
Women represented 33.3% of the newly registered jobs. Additionally, an increase of 2.1% in the hiring of foreign labor was reported, totaling 5,426 workers compared to 5,316 in the third quarter of 2024. The wholesale and retail sector accounted for 43.8% of foreign workers, followed by construction and mining at 14.8% and 11.5% respectively.
The report highlighted the suspension of at least 22 illegal foreign workers, marking a 29.4% increase from the previous quarter, which saw 17 suspensions. The majority of the suspensions occurred in Maputo city (11 cases), followed by Sofala (six), Manica (three), and Maputo province (two). Of these suspended workers, 63.6% were involved in commerce, restaurants, and hotels, with construction and manufacturing following at 22.7% and 13.7% respectively.
The recent data from Mozambique’s Ministry of Labour indicates a concerning trend of rising unemployment and a decline in new job creation. The statistics highlight significant regional disparities, particularly concerning gender representation in the workforce. The increase in both foreign employment and the number of illegal foreign workers being suspended underscores ongoing challenges within the labor market. These trends necessitate strategic responses to support job creation and address the issues surrounding foreign labor management.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
