Cairo:Minister of Labor Hassan Raddad announced that Egypt's unemployment rate has decreased to 5.8% in 2026, a significant drop from approximately 13% at the end of 2013. Over the past 12 years, about 11.2 million people have secured employment both domestically and internationally.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Raddad made these remarks at the Egypt Forum 2026, highlighting that the country's labor force now totals 35.6 million people, with 33.6 million employed. He attributed this employment growth to government investments, national projects, cooperation with the private sector, and vocational training programs.

Raddad noted that since 2014, Egypt has allocated approximately EGP 9.66 billion towards financial assistance, healthcare, and social protection for workers. This sum includes EGP 2.39 billion in emergency wage support for 353,000 employees at 3,658 businesses experiencing economic difficulties, along with EGP 7.27 billion in aid for informal workers.

He also emphasized the expansion of vocational training through 87 fixed and mobile centers and the upcoming launch of the second phase of the "Mehany 2030" program. Additionally, 395 labor offices have been integrated into a digital network, while efforts continue to develop a national online platform to offer employment services and connect job seekers with employers.

Furthermore, Raddad mentioned that Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 has introduced stronger protections against unfair dismissal and established specialized labor courts for resolving workplace disputes. Looking forward, Egypt aims to create 1.4 million jobs annually by 2030, increase manufacturing employment to six million, and reduce informal employment to 45%.