Uganda Bureau of Statistics has unveiled anew Labour Market Survey report 2025 indicating that about 7.7 million Ugandans were under utilised in the labour market in 2025,.
.This survey provides comprehensive data on labor supply, demand, and employment trends, with data collection for 2025 having commenced in April 2025.
The survey covers employment, unemployment, and job creation, with a key finding indicating that 57.6% of persons aged 14-64 were in the working-age population.
This survey marks a renewed focus on regular labour statistics, with plans for quarterly releases to inform policy.
This release is part of a series of reports in 2026, which included the National Population and Housing Census 2024 Community Module and the upcoming Baseline Education Census (BEC) Report 2025
The Survey covered unemployed, those working fewer hours than they would like, and those available for work but not actively seeking jobs.
According to the report unemployment rate stood at 12.2%, underscoring the gap between headline figures and the scale of unmet demand for work in Uganda’s labour market.
The Labour Market Survey was initiated to provide insights into the composition and dynamics of labour market indicators and to guide employment-focused initiatives,” UBOS Executive Director Chris Mukiza said.
The data shows that labour under utilisation is being driven largely by underemployment, particularly among workers in low-productivity sectors such as subsistence agriculture and informal trade, where incomes and working hours remain inconsistent.
The survey found that 58.3% of those aged 15 to 19 are under utilised, pointing to limited entry points into stable employment for new labour market entrants.
The burden is also heavier in rural areas, where under utilisation stands at 43.9%, reflecting fewer job opportunities and a reliance on subsistence activities compared to urban centres.
Overall, Uganda has a working-age population of 26.4 million people, but only 11.8 million are employed, highlighting the scale of labour supply pressures facing the economy.
The survey further shows that many of those counted as employed are engaged in vulnerable work, with a significant share in own-use production and informal activities that do not provide stable income or social protection.
in his remarks UBOS exective Director Dr Chris Mukiza said the findings should be used to guide policy responses and address structural imbalances in the labour market.
“We urge all users, including policymakers and researchers, to utilise the information in this report to guide planning, policy formulation and evaluation of employment-focused initiatives for inclusive economic growth,” he said.
The data highlights the limits of relying on unemployment rates alone to assess labour market health in developing economies, where many workers cannot afford to remain idle and instead take up irregular or low-paying jobs.
