Highlights
1. The labour force for year 2018 was estimated at 583,800 (352,800 males and 231,000 females) and employment at 543,700 (336,100 males and 207,600 females).
2. The estimated number of unemployed for 2018 was 40,100 (16,700 males and 23,400 females). The unemployment rate worked out to 6.9% (4.7% for male and 10.1% for female).
3. Those outside the labour force (economically inactive) numbered 407,100 of whom 3,800 are in potential labour force (those who were not looking but were available for work or those who were looking but were not available for work).
4. In 2018, labour underutilization worked out to be 168,800, comprising:
· Unemployed (40,100).
· Potential labour force (3,800), i.e persons not in employment and who were not actively looking but were available for work or those who were actively looking but were not available for work.
· Skills-related underemployed (39,100), i.e those who were in employment and having tertiary qualifications and were engaged in occupations such as clerical support workers, service and sales workers, skilled agricultural workers, plant and machine operators and elementary occupations.
· Time-related underemployed (85,800), i.e those who were in employment and were available for extra work.
5. Change from 2017 to 2018
a. The Mauritian labour force decreased by 3,100 while those outside labour force increased by 10,000.
b. Both employment and unemployment went down by 1,400 and 1,700 respectively.
c. The overall activity rate declined from 59.6% to 58.9% and the unemployment rate from 7.1% to 6.9%.
Youth
d. Both youth employment and unemployment increased by 500 and 400 respectively.
e. Youth unemployment rate therefore increased by 0.2 percentage point from 24.9% to 25.1%.
