Categories: Top story of the day

ILO shocker- Zimbabwe unemployment only 5 percent

Unemployment in Zimbabwe is only 5.4 percent and this is likely to remain so until next year, according to a chart released by the International Labour Organisation today.  Unemployment in Zimbabwe is usually put at between 80 and 90 percent, but the ILO chart shows that unemployment in Zimbabwe has been steady at 5.3 and 5.4 percent. The ILO says that its unemployment rates might be different from those published by national sources due to differences in coverage and definitions. Ironically, according to the ILO chart, while Zimbabweans are flocking to Botswana and South Africa, unemployment is higher in the two countries with Botswana at 18.2 percent and South Africa at 25.1 percent. Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti was booed two years ago when he said Zimbabwe’s unemployment was 9 percent. The ILO says it was 5.3 percent.

(471 VIEWS)

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

View Comments

  • (Unemployment) not employment .people should be careful .these words confuse .stupied people . 5% maybe employed . But i would put it at 1 percent employed . Not that 5.4% nonsense

    • Thamanda, it's 5.4% unemployment rate. What it means is that 94.6% of Zimbabweans are employed. Where are you failing to get it?

Share
Published by
Charles Rukuni

Recent Posts

Britain says amendment of the Zimbabwean Constitution is a sovereign, legislative matter for Zimbabwe to decide

Britain says amendment of the Zimbabwe constitution is a sovereign, legislative matter for Zimbabwe to…

March 24, 2026

Who started the war?

It is now 47 years since I wrote the short story below for a South…

March 4, 2026

Zimbabwe 2026 monetary policy statement at a glance

Zimbabwe has released its 2026 monetary policy statement in which it seeks to stabilise its…

March 1, 2026

Was Chombo Mugabe’s number two?

Far from it, on paper that is. Ignatius Chombo was one of the longest serving…

February 6, 2026

Zimbabwe’s 2026 citizen’s budget

Zimbabwe on Thursday announced a ZiG290.9 billion budget with revenue expected to be ZiG287.6 billion,…

November 30, 2025

IMF says Zimbabwe’s economic recovery in 2025 is stronger than previously anticipated

The International Monetary Fund says Zimbabwe’s economic recovery in 2025 is stronger than previously anticipated…

November 8, 2025