The Mauritian labor market continues to show a positive trend, with the national unemployment rate decreasing to 5.5% in the second quarter of 2026. This represents a decline from 5.7% in the previous quarter and 5.9% in the same period last year. According to Statistics Mauritius, the Continuous Multi-Purpose Household Survey (CMPHS) recorded a labor force of 582,600 people, comprising 331,000 men and 251,600 women.
The number of employed individuals in Mauritius stood at 550,600, marking a slight increase of 500 jobs over the past year. Conversely, the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 2,200 to 32,000. The overall activity rate remained stable at 58.8% over the past year, with 69.6% for men and 48.7% for women. The unemployment rate adjusted for seasonal variations was estimated at 5.2%, down from 5.6% in the second quarter of 2025.
The decline in unemployment is largely attributed to an improvement in the employment situation for women. The female unemployment rate decreased from 7.9% to 7.0% over the past year, representing a reduction of 2,400 women without jobs. In contrast, the male unemployment rate stood at 4.4%. The youth unemployment rate (16-24 years) also improved, with the number of young people unemployed decreasing to 11,600 and the unemployment rate falling to 19.3% from 20.1% the previous year.
The tertiary sector continues to be the main driver of employment in Mauritius, accounting for 76.1% of the national workforce. This sector includes commerce, wholesale, and retail trade (15.8%), as well as other services (60.3%). The secondary sector (industry) accounts for 19.1% of employment, comprising manufacturing (9.8%) and construction (7.9%). The primary sector (agriculture) accounts for 4.8% of employment.
Among the 32,000 unemployed individuals, 46% do not possess a School Certificate (SC) or equivalent. Additionally, 84% have been looking for work for less than a year, and 72% have prior work experience, while 28% are seeking their first job. The inactive population, which includes retirees and homemakers, stands at 409,000 people.
The profile of job seekers in Mauritius reveals that 55% of the unemployed are single, with 71% being men and 43% being women. Furthermore, 14,700 (46%) of the unemployed do not have a Cambridge School Certificate (SC) or equivalent. Around 26,900 (84%) have been looking for work for up to one year, and 9,000 (28%) are looking for a job for the first time.
Key statistics from the report include: the unemployment rate for the second quarter of 2026 is estimated at 5.5%; the number of persons outside the labor force is estimated at 409,000; and 11,600 or about 36% of the unemployed are aged between 16 to 24 years.
Key points
- Mauritius' unemployment rate decreased to 5.5% in Q2 2026.
- The tertiary sector accounts for 76.1% of employment in Mauritius.
- The female unemployment rate decreased from 7.9% to 7.0% over the past year.
