The estimated unemployment rate for Mozambique has fallen from 20.7% in 2014/15 to 17.5% in 2019/20, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE), which acknowledges limitations in measurement given the prevalence of informal and subsistence activities.

On the other hand, in the measurement is considered employed anyone who has had paid work for "at least one hour in the seven days prior" to the study, the Household Budget Survey 2019/20, consulted this Monday by Lusa.

"The unemployment rate shows a decreasing behavior", with "no significant difference" between men and women, but with geographical contrasts: in the urban area it is 28.9% versus 11.4% in rural areas, reads the final report.

"Maputo Province and Maputo City have the highest unemployment rates in the country, with 31.61 and 37.11 PT2T, respectively," while, on the other side, the lowest unemployment rate "is in Zambezia province, at 10.71 PT2T.

Measuring unemployment "has been very difficult under the socio-economic conditions of developing countries," the report says, taking into account the "greater intensity of informal economic activities and also the fact that most people, even if they don't have a job, have to practice some activity for their subsistence.

The study considered as unemployed population all persons aged 15 years and older without occupation, casual workers, self-employed without employees and without regular work, and unpaid family workers.

Lusa Agency