Zimbabwe Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Zimbabwe's labor force participation was 67.72% in 2025, ranked 39th globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Zimbabwe's labor force participation stood at 67.72% in 2025, a decline of +0.01pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 68.91% by 2026. Zimbabwe ranked 39th globally.
Zimbabwe’s labor force participation has risen modestly over the 36‑year series, moving from 66.99 % in 1990 to 67.72 % in 2025, placing the country 39th globally. The indicator reached its all‑time high of 67.79 % in 2023, just above the 2020 trough of 64.67 %, suggesting a brief dip during the pandemic‑related downturn followed by a swift recovery. Compared with peers of similar rank, Zimbabwe’s 2025 rate is marginally lower than Kazakhstan’s 67.77 % and the Republic of Congo’s 67.83 %, yet slightly above Kenya’s 67.39 % and the Netherlands’ 67.25 %. The persistence of a narrow upward band since the early 2020s indicates limited structural change in labor market engagement, with the recent post‑pandemic rebound driven largely by informal sector activity. Continued investment in formal job creation and skills development will be essential to sustain any further upward movement in participation rates.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 70.34% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 69.63% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 68.91% | - | - |
| 2025 | 67.72% | −0.01pp | #39 |
| 2024 | 67.73% | −0.06pp | #39 |
| 2023 | 67.79% | +2.57pp | #42 |
| 2022 | 65.21% | −0.18pp | #58 |
| 2021 | 65.40% | +0.73pp | #54 |
| 2020 | 64.67% | −1.13pp | #56 |
| 2019 | 65.80% | −0.10pp | #57 |
| 2018 | 65.89% | −0.09pp | #53 |
| 2017 | 65.99% | −0.08pp | #51 |
| 2016 | 66.07% | −0.06pp | #52 |
| 2015 | 66.13% | −0.03pp | #52 |
| 2014 | 66.16% | +0.01pp | #53 |
| 2013 | 66.15% | +0.06pp | #54 |
| 2012 | 66.09% | +0.08pp | #54 |
| 2011 | 66.01% | +0.09pp | #57 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zimbabwe matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2024. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zimbabwe's labor force participation was 67.72% in 2025. Ranked 39th globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from the previous year.
Zimbabwe's labor force participation peaked at 67.79% in 2023.
The lowest labor force participation in Zimbabwe was 64.67% in 2020.
Zimbabwe ranks 39th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Zimbabwe's labor force participation is projected to reach 68.91% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Zimbabwe in 2025 was 67.72%. This ranks 39th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zimbabwe_labor-force-participation,
title = {Zimbabwe Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zimbabwe/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}