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Ethiopia · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

54th of 185 · 17th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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UnemploymentEthiopia's unemployment rose from 3.1 % in 1996 to 3.3 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020252%3%3%4%4%5%3.3 %

Ethiopia's unemployment rose from 3.1 % in 1996 to 3.3 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

29th of 183 · 16th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Youth unemploymentEthiopia's youth unemployment rose from 4.7 % in 1996 to 5.4 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020253%4%5%6%7%5.4 %

Ethiopia's youth unemployment rose from 4.7 % in 1996 to 5.4 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

32nd of 182 · 15th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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ParticipationEthiopia's participation fell from 81.9 % in 1996 to 68.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202565%70%75%80%85%68.5 %

Ethiopia's participation fell from 81.9 % in 1996 to 68.5 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

57th of 182 · 21st in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)Ethiopia's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 74.7 % in 1996 to 58.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202555%60%65%70%75%80%58.5 %

Ethiopia's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 74.7 % in 1996 to 58.5 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

31st of 182 · 13th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)Ethiopia's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 79.4 % in 1996 to 66.2 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202560%65%70%75%80%85%66.2 %

Ethiopia's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 79.4 % in 1996 to 66.2 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

13th of 182 · 2nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force, totalEthiopia's labour force, total rose from 25.9M in 1996 to 56.8M in 2025.20002005201020152020202520M30M40M50M60M56.8M

Ethiopia's labour force, total rose from 25.9M in 1996 to 56.8M in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

11th of 182 · 11th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Self-employed (% of total employment)Ethiopia's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 90.4 % in 1996 to 84.3 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202582%84%86%88%90%92%84.3 %

Ethiopia's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 90.4 % in 1996 to 84.3 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

179th of 182 · 42nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)Ethiopia's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 89.5 % in 1996 to 84.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202582%84%86%88%90%92%84.1 %

Ethiopia's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 89.5 % in 1996 to 84.1 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

13th of 182 · 12th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)Ethiopia's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 76.2 % in 1996 to 60.1 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202555%60%65%70%75%80%60.1 %

Ethiopia's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 76.2 % in 1996 to 60.1 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

179th of 182 · 43rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in industry (% of total employment)Ethiopia's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 6.5 % in 1996 to 6.4 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020256%7%8%9%6.4 %

Ethiopia's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 6.5 % in 1996 to 6.4 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

165th of 182 · 32nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in services (% of total employment)Ethiopia's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 17.2 % in 1996 to 33.4 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%10%20%30%33.4 %

Ethiopia's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 17.2 % in 1996 to 33.4 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

155th of 168 · 33rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)Ethiopia's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $1,962 in 1996 to intl $7,638 in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $0intl $2kintl $4kintl $6kintl $8kintl $7,638

Ethiopia's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $1,962 in 1996 to intl $7,638 in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for Ethiopia.

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