Mauritian Unemployment Falls to 5.6% as Labour Market Strengthens

The Mauritian labour market has shown signs of a gradual recovery as the national unemployment rate fell to 5.6% in the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest official labour force data.

The new figures represent a notable decline from the 5.9% recorded both in the previous quarter and during the same period in 2024.

Total employment across the island has risen to 556,400, up from 550,100 in the second quarter, marking a continued upward trend in the country’s workforce participation.

The Labour Landscape

As employment figures climbed, the number of individuals classified as being outside the active population dropped to 402,100, compared to 411,600 a year ago.

However, the data reveals a significant gender divide among the 32,800 people currently without work:

• Women: 18,900 (58% of total unemployed)
• Men: 13,900 (42% of total unemployed)

Of those seeking work, 14,400 are officially registered with the Employment Information Centre.

The statistics also highlight domestic vulnerabilities, noting that 3,400 of the unemployed are heads of households, and 5,400 live in homes where no one is currently earning an income.

Youth and Education Challenges

Despite the overall improvement, the report underscores persistent structural challenges for younger Mauritians.

Youth unemployment remains high, with 11,100 people aged 16 to 24 looking for work, accounting for 34% of the total unemployed population.

Within this youth bracket:

• 5,400 are unmarried first-time job seekers.
• 3,100 hold qualifications below the School Certificate level.

The correlation between education and joblessness is stark across all age groups. Nearly 46% of all unemployed persons (15,100 individuals) do not possess a School Certificate.

Within this group, 3,000 have not obtained the PSAC or CPE.

Job Seeking Trends

The data suggests that for most, unemployment is a temporary state, with 82% of those out of work having been searching for less than a year.

Conversely, 29% of the total unemployed pool consists of individuals attempting to enter the workforce for the very first time.

While the indicators point toward a progressive consolidation of the Mauritian job market, experts note that the road ahead remains difficult for the low-skilled and the younger generation.

Source: Le Mauricien