Pakistan is witnessing a troubling surge in unemployment, as the number of jobless citizens has climbed from 4.5 million in 2020–21 to 5.9 million in 2024–25. This 31% jump amounting to roughly 1.4 million additional people without work highlights how challenging the country’s job market has become.
The rise is not limited to any single demographic. Men and women, along with workers across all age groups, have been affected. Particularly alarming is the sharp increase in unemployment among the youth. For individuals between the ages of 15 and 24, the jobless rate has gone up from 11.1% to 12.6%, signaling growing difficulties for fresh graduates and young jobseekers trying to secure a foothold in the workforce.
Government officials, including Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, have voiced serious concern over the trend. They stress that Pakistan urgently needs stronger job-creation strategies, wider access to skill development programs, and more effective labour policies to stabilize the situation.
Experts warn that without long-term planning and consistent execution, unemployment could continue to rise placing added financial pressure on families and undermining the country’s economic momentum. They believe that expanding technical training, supporting small and medium enterprises, encouraging entrepreneurship, and attracting investment could help ease the crisis. But these solutions demand patience, practical policymaking, and cooperation between the public and private sectors.
