Zambia’s employed population stands at 5.8 million

ZAMBIA’s employed population stands at 5,859,225, according to the 2014 Labour Force Survey conducted by the Central Statistical Office, released in Lusaka today.

Five million, two hundred and twenty nine thousand, five hundred and ninety nine (5,229,599) out of the 5.8 million employed population are in the informal sector, with 629,626 working in the formal sector.

The number of the unemployed population stands 469,851.

The survey also puts Zambia’s total working population at about 8.12 million and the labour force at about 6.3 million.

Speaking during the launch and dissemination of the labour force survey report in Lusaka today, Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda says it is hoped that the results of the survey will be fully utilized for monitoring and evaluation as well as formulation of important policies with a view to improve the lives of the people.

He says establishing data on labour and employment is a priority to the government because the availability of labour and employment data supports the government in informed policy formulation and decision making for employment promotion and social economic development in general.

And Speaking at the same function Central Statistical Office Director John Kalumbi says there is need to have national efforts directed towards putting in place measures and systems for continued collection, analysis and dissemination of labour market indicators that should be useful in informing policy decisions.

Mr. Kalumbi says the study tools and analytical methods used in the survey were based on International Labour Organization (ILO) prototypes and standards designed to facilitate comparison within and across countries.

And ILO Director for Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia Alexio Musindo expressed optimism that the report would be helpful to researchers, employment seekers and policymakers.