The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) has revealed that as of June this year, unemployment in Rwanda stood at 13.4%, meaning that out of every seven people, one was unemployed. Those outside the labour force number 3.3 million, representing 37.9%.
These figures come from the Labour Force and Unemployment Survey, which shows that in the fifth month of this year, unemployment in Rwanda stood at 13.4%, meaning one in every seven people of working age was unemployed.
NISR said there was no change compared to May of last year, 2025, as the unemployment figures were similar at that time as well.
The survey shows that in the second quarter of 2026 (in May 2026), the number of people who had reached working age (that is, those aged 16 and above) stood at 8,748,082.
Of those who had reached working age, 4,706,239 were employed. Among those employed, the majority work in services, at 44.7%, followed by those working in agriculture, at 39.1%, while those working in industry stood at 16.2%.
Those who were unemployed and in the labour force numbered 728,694, representing 13.4%. Among these unemployed persons in the labour force, 51.2% work in subsistence farming, while the remaining 48.7% are unemployed.
This brings the total number of people in the labour force, whether employed or not, to 5,434,933, representing 62.1%.
Meanwhile, those outside the labour force who are of working age (16 and above) numbered 3,313,149, representing 37.9%.
The survey also shows that among those outside the labour force, 41.3% work in subsistence farming, 25.8% are students, while the remaining 32.9% are elderly persons, people with disabilities, discouraged job seekers, and others.
NISR also shows that over the past five years, the proportion of employed persons among those of working age has been rising: it stood at 41.8% in 2022, rose to 49.5% in 2023, reached 52.0% in 2024, and reached 53.8% last year in 2025, with the same rate of 53.8% continuing in 2026.
For those of working age without jobs, the figures have also been declining: 23.0% in 2022, dropping to 16.8% in 2023, remaining at 16.8% in 2024, and falling to 13.4% last year, the same rate as this year, 2026.
RADIOTV10