The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) reported a decline in the unemployment rate during the first quarter of 2017, to reach 12 percent of the total labor force, compared to 12.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, and 12.7 percent in the first quarter of 2016. The number of unemployed workers reached 3.503 million in the first quarter of 2017, equal to 12 percent of the total labor force. The proportion of unemployed youth in the age group 15 to 29 years old made up 79 percent of the total unemployed ratio. The urban unemployment rate reached 13.7 percent of the total labor force, compared to 14 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016; and about 15.2 percent in the same quarter of the previous year. The rural unemployment rate reached 10.8 percent of the total labor force, compared to 11.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 10.9 percent in the same quarter of the previous year.

Source: Egypt Independent May 15, 2017 09:45 UTC