NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS OF RWANDA Labour Force survey Quarter 1, March 2026
2 Labour Force Survey 2026 © NISR LFS 2026–Q1 NISR © 2025 National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 P.O Box: 6139 Kigali, Rwanda Tel: +250 788 383103 Email: [email protected] Website: www.statistics.gov.rw Recommended citation: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force survey, 2026
3 © NISR LFS 2026–Q1 Contents ii. Figures and Titles------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 iii. Foreword----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 iv. Executive summary---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 v. Rwanda Labour Force Indicators, November 2025 (Q4)----------------------------------------- 9 1 Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 2 Labour Market Overview-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 2.1 Labour force participation rate, employment to population ratio and unemployment rate 11 2.2 Trend of labour Underutilization......................................................................................... 11 2.3. Rate of population outside the labour force....................................................................... 12 3 Characteristics of population in labour force------------------------------------------------------- 13 3.1. Labour force participation among males and females........................................................ 13 3.2. Labour force participation by education............................................................................. 13 3.3. Labour force participation by age group ........................................................................... 14 4 Characteristics of employed population------------------------------------------------------------- 15 3.4 Labour force participation by area of residence................................................................. 14 4.1 Employment to population ratio (EPR)................................................................................ 15 4.2. Status in employment......................................................................................................... 16 4.3. Main occupation................................................................................................................. 19 4.4. Main Economic activity....................................................................................................... 20 4.5. Means of transport by areas of residence.......................................................................... 22 4.6. Actual hours worked........................................................................................................... 22 5 Unemployment and Labour Underutilization population -------------------------------------- 23 5.1 Unemployment rate ........................................................................................................... 23 5.2. Labour Underutilization...................................................................................................... 24 5.3. Youth Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET).................................................... 26 6 Population outside the Labour Force----------------------------------------------------------------- 28 6.1 Main components of population outside the labour Force................................................. 28 6.2. Population outside the labour force by area of residence................................................... 39 6.3. Population outside the labour force by age group ............................................................. 39 6.4. Population outside the labour force by level of educational attainment............................ 30 7 Work in agriculture---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 7.1. Agricultural status of workers............................................................................................. 31 7.2. Characteristics of agricultural workers............................................................................... 32 7.3. Share of agriculture in the total work force........................................................................ 34 A. Standard errors, 95% confidence intervals, coefficient of variation (CV) and
design effect of selected main labour force indicators.----------------------------------------- 36 Labour force survey contributors---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43 i
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© NISRLFS 2026–Q1
Figures and Tables
Figure 01: Trends in labour force participation rate by sex ............................................................................ 6
Figure 02: Trends in employment to population ratio by sex.......................................................................... 7
Figure 03: Distribution of employed population by board sector of economic activity .................................. 7
Figure 04: Trends in unemployment rate by sex ............................................................................................ 8
Figure 05: Trends in labour underutilization rate by sex ................................................................................ 8
Figure 2. 1. Trend Labour force participation rate, employment to population ratio and unemployment rate 11
Figure 2. 2 Trends of labour underutilization .................................................................................................. 12
Figure 2. 3 Trends of outside labour force rate and potential labour force .................................................... 12
Figure 3. 1 Labour force participation rate by sex ......................................................................................... 13
Figure 3. 2 Labour force participation rate by level of education ................................................................... 13
Figure 3. 3 Labour force participation rate by age group .............................................................................. 14
Figure 3. 4 Labour force participation rate by area of residence .................................................................... 14
Figure 4. 1: Employment to population ratio (EPR) by area of residence. ...................................................... 15
Figure 4. 2: Employment to population ratio by sex ...................................................................................... 16
Figure 4. 3: Employment to population ratio by age group. ...........................................................................
ICSE-18 versus ICSE-93 ........................................................................................................ 16
Figure 4. 4: Distribution of employed population (%) by status in employment as per ICSE-93 .................... 17
Figure 4.5: Length of employment contract (Only for the current quarter) by sex, area of residence and
level of education attained. ............................................................................................................................ 20
Figure 4. 6: Means of transport for employed people by province ................................................................. 21
Figure 4. 7: Average actual hours worked ...................................................................................................... 21
Figure 5. 1: Unemployment rate by sex. ......................................................................................................... 22
Figure 5. 2: Unemployment rate by area of residence. .................................................................................. 23
Figure 5.3: Unemployment rate among youth and Adult ............................................................................... 23
Figure 5. 4: Labour under-utilization rate by sex ............................................................................................ 24
Figure 5. 5: Labour under-utilization rate by area of residence. .................................................................... 24
Figure 5. 6: Trend in labour underutilization rate by Youth and Adult. .......................................................... 25
Figure 5.7: NEET rate trend by sex .................................................................................................................. 25
Figure 5.8: NEET rate trend by area of residence ........................................................................................... 26
Figure 6. 1: Main components of Persons outside the labour force .............................................................. 27
Figure 6. 2: Population outside Labour force by Area of residence ................................................................ 28
Figure 6. 3: Population outside the Labour force by age group ...................................................................... 28
Figure 6. 4: Population outside the Labour force by Education level attained. ............................................... 29
Figure 7. 1: Share of workers in agriculture by sex ........................................................................................ 33
Figure 7. 2: Share of workers in agriculture by level of education attained. .................................................. 34
Table 4. 1:Distribution of employed population (,000) by status in employment as per ICSE-93 ................... 17
Table 4.3: Distribution of employed population (,000) by occupations ......................................................... 18
Table 4. 4: Percentage distribution of employed population by branch of economic activity. ........................ 19
Table 4. 5: Distribution of employed population by economic activities (,000) .............................................. 20
Table 7. 1: Works status in agriculture ........................................................................................................... 30
Table 7. 2: Trend of proportion of agricultural workers by sex. ...................................................................... 31
Table 7. 3: Trend of proportion of agricultural workers by age group ............................................................ 32
Table 7. 4: Trend of proportion of agricultural workers by level of education attainment ............................. 32
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© NISRLFS 2026–Q1
iii Foreword
The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) conducts the labour force survey (LFS) to provide labour
statistics that are essential for the development of policies and monitoring the country’s progress toward
achieving decent work for all.
These statistics also support the government of Rwanda to track the implementation of Second National
Strategy for Transformation (NST2), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as vision 2050. Effective
monitoring of the progress towards these targets requires the production of relevant, reliable, coherent,
timely and accessible labour statistics.
The ultimate goal of the Labour Force Survey is to provide comprehensive data on the structure and trends of labour force, including employment unemployment and other key labour market indicators. These data support the design, implementation and evaluation of economic and social policies related to employment creation, skills development, and the promotion of decent work.
The Labour Force survey has been conducted on quarterly basis since 2019, following a pilot survey conducted in February 2016 and a bi-annual series implemented between August 2016 and August 2018. This report presents the findings of the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, with data collection conducted in February 2026.
NISR welcome feedback on this publication from all users. We remain committed to continuously improve the scope and presentation of our analysis to maximize their utility.
NISR congratulates all those who contributed to this exercise. In particular, NISR recognize the dedication of survey coordinators, supervisors, analysts, team leaders, interviewers, drivers, and respondents for making this survey possible.
Furthermore, NISR invites policy makers, program managers, researchers, and all users to use the valuable data presented in this report to contribute and enhance Rwanda’s economic development. MURENZI Ivan Director General of NISR
6 © NISR LFS 2026–Q1 iv Executive summary The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) is a household-based sample survey conducted by the NISR. It collects data on the labour market activities among individuals aged 14 years and older who live in private households across Rwanda. However, only persons aged 16 years and above are covered for reporting. This report mainly compares survey results for the month of November each year, starting from 2019. However, the tables in a separate excel file published together with this report contain more observed data points of the labour force survey since 2019. Labour force In February 2026(Q1), the working age population (16 years and above) was estimated to be 8.7 million of whom around 5 million were employed, 615 thousand were unemployed, and 3.1 million were out of labour force. The labour force which includes both the employed and unemployed population was 5.6 million. The labour force participation rate was estimated to be 64.3 % which increased by 1.3 percentage points as compared to the estimated value in February 2025 (63 %). The rate of the population outside labour force decreased to 35.7 % in February 2026 (Q1) compared to 37 % in February 2025(Q1). Generally, the labour force participation rate has consistently been higher among male than female. In February 2026 (Q1), the gender gap in labour force participation rate was approximately 12.8 percentage points and it remained stable compared to February 2025. Figure 01: Trends in labour force participation rate by sex Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) Employment The employment-to-population ratio (EPR) increased to 57.2 % in February 2026 (Q1), up from 56 % in February 2025 (Q1). This increase was observed across both sexes, with a gain of 1 percentage point among females and 1.4 percentage points among males. In February 2026 (Q1), the EPR remained higher among males (64.4%) than females (50.8 %). The gender gap in the employment-to-population ratio was 13.6 percentage points in February 2026 (Q1) and remained stable compared to February 2025 (Q1). Additionally, the EPR was higher among adults aged 31 years and above (61 %) than among youth aged 16-30 years (52.1 %). 57.8 50.6 44.2 61.8 54.5 48.0 65.2 57.6 50.9 68.8 61.0 54.2 69.9 63.0 56.9 71.1 64.3 58.3 LFPR (%) 2021Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2024Q1 2025Q1 2026Q1 Female Male Rwanda
7 Labour Force Survey 2026 © NISR LFS 2026–Q1 Figure 02: Trends in employment to population ratio by sex Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) The distribution of employed population by major economic activity revealed that the agriculture sector employs the largest number of the employed population in February 2026 (Q1). The employment in agricultural sector increased slightly to 44.4 % in February 2026 (Q1) compared to 43.7% in February 2025. However, the share of employment in the industry sector remained almost stable compared to February 2025 (Q1). In contrast, the percentage of employed population in the services sector decreased by 1 percentage point in the same period. Distribution of employed population by board sector of economic activity Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) Unemployment In February 2026(Q1), the unemployment rate was 11 % indicating roughly one unemployed person for every nine persons in the labour force. This rate remained stable as compared to the same quarter in 2025. The unemployment rate was higher among females (12.8 %) compared to males (9.4 %) and youth experience a higher unemployment rate (13.4 %) compared to adults (9.4 %). The unemployment rate was 11.7 % in urban and 10.7% in rural areas. The gender gap in unemployment rate was 3.4 percentage points in February 2026 (Q1), and remained stable compared to February 2025. EPR (%) 48.7 42.0 36.1 52.5 45.5 39.3 55.1 47.7 41.1 60.9 53.1 46.3 63 56.0 49.8 64.4 57.2 50.8 Female Male Rwanda 2021Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2024Q1 2025Q1 2026Q1 33.2 14.5 52.5 52.3 14.6 32.9 39.1 14.0 13.7 14.3 14.6 46.9 43.7 44.4 46.3 39.4 42.0 41.0 Percentage (%) Services Industry Agriculture 2021Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2024Q1 2025Q1 2026Q1
8 Labour Force Survey 2026 © NISR LFS 2026–Q1 Figure 03: Trends in unemployment rate by sex
Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) Labour underutilisation The unemployment rate alone does not fully reflect unmet employment needs. A more complete assessment requires consideration of other components such as time-related underemployment and potential labour force. The labour underutilization rate stood at 55.9 % in February 2026 (Q1). This rate was higher among females (62.3 %) than among males (49.2 %) and was almost equal among youth (56.1 %) and adults (55.8 %). The labour underutilization rate increased by 2.2 percentage points in February 2026 (Q1) compared to February 2025 (Q1). Figure 04: Trends in labour underutilization rate by sex Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) Unemployment rate (%) 18.4 17.0 15.7 18.2 16.5 15.0 19.2 17.2 15.5 14.5 12.9 11.5 12.5 11.1 9.9 12.8 11 9.4 Female Male Rwanda 2021Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2024Q1 2025Q1 2026Q1 LUUR (%) 63.8 54.0 54.1 58.8 52.8 46.7 60.4 54.2 48.0 55.7 49.5 43.3 59.8 53.7 47.2 62.3 55.9 49.2 Female Male Rwanda 2021Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2024Q1 2025Q1 2026Q1