National statistics show that Rwanda’s services sector employed an estimated 2.17 million people in August 2026, accounting for 45.6 per cent of the employed population and remaining the country’s largest employer.
The findings are contained in the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda’s Labour Force Survey for the third quarter of 2026. The country had approximately 4.75 million employed people during the survey period.
Services increased their share of employment from 45 per cent in August 2025 to 45.6 per cent in August 2026.
Agriculture remained the second-largest source of employment, accounting for 34.2 per cent of workers, down from 35.1 per cent a year earlier. Industry employed 20.2 per cent, compared with 19.9 per cent in August 2025.
The survey found that 5.63 million of Rwanda’s 8.81 million working-age population were either employed or actively seeking work. About 3.18 million people remained outside the labour force.
Despite the growth recorded by the services sector, conditions across the wider labour market weakened.
The unemployment rate rose to 15.6 per cent from 13.4 per cent in August 2025, leaving an estimated 877,716 people without work.
Women recorded an unemployment rate of 18.3 per cent, compared with 13.3 per cent among men.
The rate among young people aged between 16 and 30 stood at 18.8 per cent, while unemployment among adults was 13.1 per cent.
The proportion of the working-age population in employment declined from 57 per cent to 54 per cent. Labour-force participation also fell from 65.8 per cent to 63.9 per cent.
NISR recorded 1.91 million employed people who wanted and were available to work additional hours.
Nearly 4.6 million people were classified as underutilised when unemployed people, those working insufficient hours and people available for work but not actively seeking it were combined.
Elie GATETE
RADIOTV10