15 © NISR LFS 2026–Q1 Chapter 4 Characteristics of employed population The 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS), held in 2013, through its resolution on statistics of work, employment, and labour underutilization, classifies persons of working age as employed if, during a short reference period of seven days or one week, They did some work (even for just one hour) for profit or pay, in cash or in kind. They were attached to a job or had an enterprise from which they were ‘temporarily’ absent during this period. 4.1 Employment to population ratio (EPR) Aggregate employment generally increases with population growth. Therefore, the Employment to Population Ratio (EPR) serves as an indicator of the economy’s effectiveness in creating income-generating jobs for the working-age population (aged 16 years and above). It reflects the demand for labour in the economy in terms of the number of workers. An increase in the employment-to population ratio is often regarded as a sign of economic acceleration, while a rise in total employment is considered as an indicator of economic stability. In February 2026, the Employment-to-population ratio was 57.2 %, representing an increase of 1.2 percentage points compared to the rate observed in February 2025. Relative to February 2025, the employment to population ratio increased by 1.8 percentage points in rural areas but remained stable in urban areas. Across all rounds of the labour force survey, the employment-to-population ratio has been higher in urban areas than in rural areas. The gap between the employment-to-population ratio in urban and rural areas remained significant in February 2026 (Q1) at 7.6 percentage points, compared to 9.7 percentage points observed in February 2025 (Q1). Figure 4. 1: Employment to population ratio (EPR) by area of residence. Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) Figure 4.2 shows the trend in the employment-to-population ratio disaggregated by gender, revealing a persistent gap between male and female ratios. In February 2026 (Q1), the employment-to-population ratio increased by 1.4 percentage points among males and by 1 percentage point among females compared to February 2025 (Q1). The gender gap in the employment-to-population ratio remained significant in February 2026 (Q1), standing at (13.6 percentage points). This represents a stable trend compared to the gap recorded in February 2025 (Q1) (13.2 percentage points). EPR(%) 42.0 46.1 52.1 54.5 61.0 62.9 62.6 41.1 43.9 44.6 50.0 53.2 55 45.5 47.7 53.1 56.0 57.2 2022Q1 2021Q1 2023Q1 2024Q1 2025Q1 2026Q1 Rwanda Rural Urban
16 Labour Force Survey 2026 © NISR LFS 2026–Q1 Figure 4. 2: Employment to population ratio by sex Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) Figure 4.3 below shows the trend in the employment-to-population ratio across different age groups. A high gap has persisted between the employment-to-population ratio of youth and adults aged 31-54 years over time. A comparison of February 2026 (Q1) with February 2025(Q1), indicates that the employment- to-population ratio increased by 1.6 percentage points among youth and by 1.7 percentage point among the population aged 55 years and above, while it remained stable among adults in the 31-54 age group. The employment-to-population ratio among the population aged 55 years and above was relatively lower compared to that of the other age groups presented in the figure, as some of the people in this age group are retiring. Figure 4. 3: Employment to population ratio by age group. Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) 4.2 Status in employment Table 4.1 below presents the distribution of the employed population (,000) by status in employment, according to ICSE-18. In February 2026 (Q1), the number of employed populations increased by 5.2 % compared to February 2025 (Q1). Across all rounds of the labour force survey, the category of employees and paid apprentices recorded the highest share of employment, followed by independent workers. In February 2026 (Q1), the number of employees and paid apprentices increased by 2.8 % compared to February 2025 (Q1). The number of dependent contractors increased by 17.8%, while the number of contributing family workers increased by 5.8 %. EPR(%) 42.0 45.5 47.1 53.1 56.0 57.2 48.7 52.5 55.1 60.9 63.0 64.4 36.1 39.3 41.1 46.3 49.8 50.8 2022Q1 2021Q1 2023Q1 2024Q1 2025Q1 2026Q1 Female Male Rwanda 42 45.5 47.7 53.1 56 57.2 36.1 38.8 42.9 47.7 50.5 52.1 55.8 61.8 60.3 66.2 69 69.5 24.7 25.2 28 34 37.6 39.3 16-30 31-54 55+ 2022Q1 2021Q1 2023Q1 2024Q4 2025Q1 2026Q1 Rwanda
17 Labour Force Survey 2026 © NISR LFS 2026–Q1 Table 4. 1:Distribution of employed population (,000) by status in employment as per ICSE-18 Status in employment 2025Q1 2025Q2 2025Q3 2025Q4 2026Q1 % change 2025Q1-2026Q1 Total 4,730 4,582 4,889 4,890 4,974 5.2 Employee 2,917 2,663 2,822 2,899 2,999 2.8 Employer 108 97 115 119 113 4.6 Independent worker 1,197 1,278 1,380 1,279 1,278 6.8 Dependent contractors 381 406 403 451 448 17.8 Contributing family worker 128 137 168 141 136 5.8 Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) Figure 4.4 reveals that the share of employees and paid apprentices in February 2026(Q1) was 60.3 %, while independent workers represented 25.7 %. Compared to February 2025 (Q1), the share of employees and paid apprentices decreased by 1.4 percentage points. Over the same period, the share of dependent contractors increased by 1 percentage point, while it remained stable within other employment categories. Figure 4. 4: Distribution of employed population (%) by status in employment as per ICSE-18 Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2025Q2 2025Q3 2025Q4 2026Q1 2025Q1 Employee Employers Independent workers Dependent contractors Contributing family worker 2.7 3.0 2.9 3.4 2.7 25.3 27.9 26.2 28.2 25.7 8.0 8.9 9.2 8.2 9.0 2.3 2.1 2.4 2.4 2.3 61.7 58.1 59.3 57.7 60.3
18 Labour Force Survey 2026 © NISR LFS 2026–Q1 4.3 Main occupation Table 4.3 results indicate that the total employment increased by 5.2 %, and almost all occupational groups increased compared to February 2025 (Q1) except for the group of professionals. In February 2026 (Q1) the group of elementary occupations recorded the highest share of employment, followed by service and sales workers. Among the occupations with at least 5% of total employment, the highest increase was observed in Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (23.3%) followed by elementary occupations (2.4%) and Service and sales workers (1.7%). Table 4. 3: Distribution of employed population (,000) by occupations Major Occupation group 2021Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2024Q1 2025Q1 2026Q1 % change 2025Q1-2026Q1 Total 3,205 3,586 3,804 4,366 4,730 4,974 5.2% Managers 35 44 31 61 47 58 24.7% Professionals 172 211 202 284 267 261 -2.4% Technicians and associate professionals 30 25 27 67 79 90 14.3% Clerical support workers 28 24 34 46 44 52 17.4% Service and sales workers 466 507 675 700 895 910 1.7% Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers 121 160 211 289 350 431 23.3% Craft and related trades workers 218 254 285 319 363 368 1.4% Plant and machine operators and assemblers 77 99 106 123 142 198 40.2% Elementary occupations 2,057 2,261 2,233 2,476 2,544 2,605 2.4% Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) 4.4 Main Economic activity Table 4.4 shows that the large number of employed populations was engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fishing (44.4%) in February 2026 (Q1). Other sectors that employed a substantial number of population were wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (13.5%), construction (7.9%), transportation and storage (6.9%), manufacturing (5 %), education (3.9 %) and accommodation and food services activities (3.5%).
19 Labour Force Survey 2026 © NISR LFS 2026–Q1 Table 4. 4: Percentage distribution of employed population by branch of economic activity. ISIC High level 2021Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2024Q1 2025Q1 2026Q1 Agriculture forestry and fishing 52.3 52.5 46.3 46.9 43.7 44.4 Mining and quarrying 1 0.8 1.1 1.4 1.4 1.4 Manufacturing 4.5 4.4 5.1 4.6 4.9 5 Electricity gas stream and air conditioning supply 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 Water supply, gas, and remediation services 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 Construction 8.8 9.2 8.1 7.4 7.6 7.9 Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 10.5 10.1 13 11.6 13.5 13.5 Transportational and storage 4.1 4.7 5.4 6.2 6.5 6.9 Accommodation and food services activities 1.7 1.7 2.9 3.1 3.5 3.5 Information and communication 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 Financial and insurance activities 1.1 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 1 Real estate activities 0.1 0 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 Professional, scientific, and technical activities 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.5 0.7 0.6 Administrative and support activities 1.8 1.2 2.7 1.7 2.2 2 Public administration and defense; compulsory social security 1.9 1.7 1 2.3 1.8 1.6 Education 3 3.8 3.8 4.6 4.3 3.9 Human health and social work activities 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3 1 0.9 Arts, entertainment, and recreation 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 Other services 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.5 3.2 2.7 Activities of households as employers 4.1 3.7 3.9 4.1 3.6 3.5 Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0 Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) The results in Table 4.5 reveals that in February 2026 (Q1), 13 branches of economic activity increased compared to February 2025 (Q1). The increase among the economic activities with at least 5 percentage of the total employment was observed in agriculture forestry and fishing (6.9 %), wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (4.9 %), Construction (8.1%), Transportation and storage (10.2%), and manufacturing (7.8%).
20 Labour Force Survey 2026 © NISR LFS 2026–Q1 Table 4. 5: Distribution of employed population by economic activities (,000) ISIC High level 2021Q1 2022Q1 2023Q1 2024Q1 2025Q1 2026Q1 %change 2025Q1-2026Q1 Agriculture forestry and fishing 1,676 1,881 1,761 2,049 2,066 2,210 6.9 Mining and quarrying 30 27 41 60 68 71 5.6 Manufacturing 143 158 195 201 232 250 7.8 Electricity gas stream and air conditioning supply 7 4 7 8 5 3 -45.5 Water supply, gas, and remediation services 2 5 5 4 9 12 31.5 Construction 281 329 307 323 361 391 8.1 Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 336 360 493 506 639 670 4.9 Transportational and storage 132 167 204 273 309 341 10.2 Accommodation and food services activities 53 59 111 135 168 173 3.3 Information and communication 12 10 16 13 17 19 10.0 Financial and insurance activities 34 30 29 38 42 50 20.6 Real estate activities 2 1 6 5 8 11 39.5 Professional, scientific, and technical activities 15 25 32 21 32 31 -3.6 Administrative and support activities 56 42 101 76 104 100 -3.3 Public administration and defense; compulsory social security 61 59 39 101 85 78 -8.8 Education 97 134 145 201 201 192 -4.2 Human health and social work activities 43 47 47 56 49 46 -5.7 Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 9 11 9 13 18 43.8 Other services 89 103 106 109 153 134 -12.1 Activities of households as employers 130 131 147 177 169 172 1.9 Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies 3 4 4 3 2 2 -21.7 Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) The figure 4.5 below shows that in February 2026 (Q1), 66.1 % of employees had short term or casual contract. This phenomenon is higher in rural areas (77.4 %) than urban areas of Rwanda (40 %). The results shows that females had more short term or casual contract (67.7 %) than males (64.6 %). It was also observed that the proportion of employees who have short term or casual contract decreases as the level of education gets higher. Figure 4.5: Length of employment contract by sex, area of residence and level of education attained. Source: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Labour Force Survey (LFS) Total Rural Urban Female Male University Upper secondary Lower secondary Primary None 14.9 24.7 60.9 14.3 5.4 73.9 20.7 9.4 50.6 40.0 64.6 28.5 6.9 77.4 18.4 4.2 67.7 27.8 4.5 28.2 5.8 66.1 82.6 2.5 68.8 26.6 4.6 49.2 42.4 8.3