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Mauritian Women Face 7.6% Unemployment Rate Despite Broad Job Market Improvements
The Mauritian job market showed signs of recovery in 2025 as the overall unemployment rate dipped to 5.7%, down from 6% in 2024, according to the latest data from Statistics Mauritius.
The island’s economy witnessed job growth, falling unemployment, and stronger labor force participation.
However, despite the positive overarching momentum, deep structural fragilities persist. Young people and women continue to face severe inequalities in the evolving economic landscape.
Headline Figures and Demographic Splits
Out of an estimated population of 992,500 people aged 16 and over, the active labor force grew to 587,200—an increase of 5,300 compared to 2024. The overall activity rate saw a marginal increase to 59.2%, up from 58.6% the previous year.
Total employment rose by 6,700 over the twelve-month period to reach 553,700 workers, while the total number of unemployed individuals decreased by 1,400 to stand at 33,500.
| Key Labor Market Metrics | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Labor Force | 581,900 | 587,200 | +5,300 |
| Total Employed | 547,000 | 553,700 | +6,700 |
| Total Unemployed | 34,900 | 33,500 | -1,400 |
| Overall Unemployment Rate | 6.0% | 5.7% | -0.3% |
Women recorded the most significant shifts in the market. Female employment grew by 5,800 positions, while female unemployment fell by 1,500, dragging the women’s unemployment rate down to 7.6% from 8.3%. The female activity rate also improved to 49.6%.
By contrast, progress for men was much more constrained. Male employment grew slightly by 900 people, while male unemployment actually ticked up by 100 individuals.
The male unemployment rate remained relatively stable at 4.3%, compared to 4.2% in 2024.
Despite women’s gains, their participation rate remains substantially lower than that of men, which stood at 69.6%.
Persistent Gender and Youth Inequality
The youth demographic remains the hardest hit by ongoing labor market friction. The unemployment rate for young people aged 16 to 24 climbed to 18.4%, up from 17.7% in 2024.
The country recorded 11,700 unemployed youths, the majority of whom are women.
Compounding the issue, youth employment contracted by 2,900 jobs, highlighting a fragile professional integration environment.
Gender disparities are further entrenched in the duration of unemployment. An unemployed person spent an average of 11 months looking for work.
However, this job-seeking timeline stretched to 13 months for women, compared to just 8 months for men.
Furthermore, nearly 10% of unemployed women have been out of work for more than two years, doubling the 5% rate seen among men.
Outside the active workforce, 405,300 individuals remained completely outside the labor market—primarily women, who are often retirees, students, or homemakers.
Additionally, 94,400 people were classified under labor underutilization, a figure that encompasses the unemployed, individuals who are available but not actively seeking work, and those who wished to work more hours.
Structural Shifts and Wages
The service sector continues to heavily dominate the economy, now accounting for roughly three out of every four jobs.
The tertiary sector comprised 415,200 jobs in 2025, a significant rise from the 358,700 recorded a decade ago in 2015.
Conversely, the primary and secondary sectors continued their decline, particularly within agriculture and manufacturing, confirming a gradual structural transformation of the economic fabric.
Concurrently, the share of skilled employment has risen. Roughly 31% of the workforce now occupies roles as managers, technicians, or professionals, up from less than 25% in 2015.
Salaries have maintained an upward trajectory, though the gender pay gap remains stark:
The average monthly salary reached Rs 37,200. However, a sharp divide persists between men, who earn an average of Rs 40,600, and women, who take home Rs 33,100.
The median salary across the economy settled around Rs 28,000. In terms of compensation, the tertiary sector remains the most lucrative, ahead of the secondary and primary sectors respectively.
The Decadal View
Looked at across a ten-year horizon, the long-term structural trends remain broadly positive.
Overall unemployment has fallen significantly from 7.95% in 2015 to 5.7% in 2025.
Similarly, youth unemployment has dropped from 26.3% to 18.4% over the decade, despite the minor increase recorded over the past year.
Source: l’Express
