Libya’s Tripoli based Ministry of Labour and Rehabilitation published statistics yesterday for the number of jobseekers across Libya. It said it hoped these figures will help better understand the needs of the labour market.
The Ministry stressed that these figures represent those registered with the Ministry of Labour and Rehabilitation. The figures reveal:
– 56 percent of registered job seekers are female
– 44 percent of registered job seekers are males
– The highest age group of jobseekers: 31 to 40 years old – totalling 106,529
– The lowest age group of jobseekers: 18 to 28 years old – totalling 11,181
– The total number of job seekers: 240,548
– 68,141 of these are registered in the east of Libya
– 45,988 of these are registered in central Libya
– 97,574 of these are registered in the west of Libya
– 28,846 of these are registered in the south of Libya
– These figures are up to March 2026
These figures, as the Ministry states, are for those who have been registered or have taken the initiative to register with the Ministry – rather than those who are actually unemployed.
In September 2020 the Tripoli government, under Prime Minister Faiez Serraj, had estimated the unemployed to be 390,000 – or at 14 percent.
However, it has been widely reported that unemployment in Libya is estimated to be more likely at around 30 percent and is particularly severe among the young.
There is an admission that unemployment statistics in Libya are inaccurate. There is also debate as to what the definition of unemployed means in Libya. Many Libyans hold more than one job – one with the state and a private sector one. On the other hand, many Libyans are registered with a state job and receive a salary – but do not turn up for that job.
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Libya’s unemployed 390,000 or 15 percent of workforce: Ministry of Labour
https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/07/19/labour-ministry-to-launch-new-website-to-ease-job-searches
https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/07/03/libya-has-2-3-million-state-sector-workers-labour-ministry
Arab region has highest worldwide unemployment levels, especially among women and youth – report
Libya’s unemployment stats are inaccurate says Labour Minister
118,000 Libyans officially looking for work: Ministry of Labour | (libyaherald.com)
Unemployment at 15%: government official | (libyaherald.com)
