ISLAMABAD, Nov 25 (Wealth Pakistan): Pakistan’s labour force has increased to 85.6 million in 2024-25. This rise reflects broader changes in participation rates, employment levels and demographic engagement across provinces and gender groups.
Labour force expansion
The Labour Force Survey 2024-25 by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, which is the 37th round of the series, provides detailed findings on labour market participation, employment and unemployment. According to the Labour Force Survey 2024-25 document available with Wealth Pakistan, the labour force includes all persons aged ten years and above who were employed or unemployed during the reference week. It also adds 2.48 million own-use producers for comparability with earlier surveys.
The labour force increased from 71.8 million in 2020-21 to 85.6 million in 2024-25 under the 13th International Conference of Labour Statisticians framework. As a result, roughly 3.5 million people entered the labour market each year. Under the 19th ICLS definition, which excludes own-use subsistence agriculture producers, the labour force stands at 83.1 million, including 63.2 million males and 19.9 million females.
Higher participation rates
The labour force participation rate rose from 44.9 percent in 2020-21 to 47.7 percent in 2024-25. Male participation increased from 67.9 percent to 69.8 percent, while female participation grew from 21.4 percent to 24.4 percent. These changes show that more people are entering the labour market than before.
Participation also increased across localities. Rural participation rose from 48.6 percent to 52.3 percent. Similarly, urban participation increased from 38.8 percent to 40.8 percent. Under the 19th ICLS standards, the participation rate is 46.3 percent overall, with male participation at 68.7 percent and female participation at 22.7 percent.
Youth and working-age engagement
The survey also highlights changes in youth and working-age participation. For example, the participation rate for those aged 15 to 24 increased from 43.8 percent to 45.4 percent. Likewise, participation among the 15 to 64 working-age population rose from 54.7 percent to 57.3 percent. These shifts indicate that more young people and working-age individuals are joining the workforce.
Provincial and demographic variation
The survey contains a provincial breakdown that shows different levels of labour force engagement across Pakistan. It covers all four provinces and Islamabad and is based on responses from 53,974 households selected from 3,796 primary sampling units. Because the sample includes both rural and urban blocks, it provides a representative national picture.
The survey uses Census 2023 population figures adjusted with an annual growth rate of 2.075 percent. This adjustment allows the survey team to compute key labour indicators with updated population estimates.
Data collection approach
The Labour Force Survey was conducted through direct household interviews, and field teams used tablets to improve data accuracy. Field operations continued through four quarters from July 2024 to June 2025. Consequently, the survey captures seasonal variations in employment.
Pakistan has adopted revised definitions under the 19th ICLS framework to align with international standards. Even so, indicators such as participation rates, employment figures and unemployment levels are still reported under the 13th ICLS approach to allow comparison with previous surveys.
Key conclusion
Overall, the increase in the labour force and the rise in participation rates mark significant shifts in Pakistan’s labour market. The Labour Force Survey 2024-25 offers updated evidence for policymakers, planners and researchers working on employment, population and economic planning.