Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
NATIONAL CENSUS REPORT 157
Figure 4.19: Percentage of Population with Educational Attainment 4.7 Employment Employment refers to an activity in which an individual works regularly for another person and gets remunerated in return. Those who are employed by others are known as employees. The person who engages others to work regularly for them is known as an employer. In Census 2023, two questions were asked regarding employment with reference of past one year of working with reference to the census period. The employment statistics captured in Census 2023, cannot be exactly comparable with Labour Force Survey due to its extensive nature and the reference period. The objective of its capturing in Census 2023 is to take snapshot of employment along with other demographic indicators.
Overall 66.22 million 38.57% people are employed in Pakistan during the reference period of past one year. Table 4.25 reveals employment statistics in Pakistan, breaking down the data by total employment and different employment categories. In Pakistan 38.57%, were employed including 59.68% and 16.10% males and females respectively. Whereas percentage of male employees is lower in rural area i.e. 58.61% as compared to urban areas i.e. 61.23%. However, percentage of females’ employees higher in rural with 18.93% as compare to urban areas with 11.81%. The male percentage in urban is mainly due to higher number of self employed in non-agriculture activity and employer in urban areas with 31.20% and 17.72% respectively as compared to rural with 7.14% and 5.68% respectively. This may due to business and services opportunities.
Paid employees are higher than all other categories. Paid employees are 34.97% in Pakistan with greater proportion in urban areas 52.71% as compared to rural areas 23.47%. The percentage of paid employees are higher in urban due to high percentage of females in urban, with 57.28%, working in public and private sector as compare to female working in rural areas with 9.28%.
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
NATIONAL CENSUS REPORT 158
The population having its own land and own livestock is included in the category Self
Employed (agriculture). In Pakistan 16.88% employees are Self Employed in agriculture this
percentage is higher in male than female population with 19.09% and 8.18%. respectively.
Table 4.25: Percentage of Population by Employment, Sex and Rural/Urban,
Census-2023
Regarding contributing family worker (unpaid family helper) both in agriculture and non-
agriculture activity the percentage of female population with 36.24% and 23.56% respectively
is higher than the male percentage 9.34% and 4.00% respectively. The percentage is higher in
rural areas as females are mostly employed in agriculture sector contributing family worker.
According to Census 2023 the unemployed population is 10.91% in the province which is higher in rural areas with 12.79% as compared to urban areas with 8.13%.
As Pakistan population is predominantly young and 18.56% population are of age 15- 24. Therefore, an indicator for youth (15-24) “Not in employment and education” has been calculated which shows that in Pakistan 40.70% of youth are not in employment and education. The percentage is higher in females with 58.41% than males with 23.90%. This needs immediate policy interventions to bring this potential to efficient utilization for country prosperity. Province Wise Analysis of Employment The Census-2023 data provides a detailed overview of employment trends across Pakistan’s provinces, revealing notable regional differences in labor force participation and employment types. Table 4.26 revels that Punjab and Sindh exhibit the highest proportions of employed individuals, at 40.45 percent and 40.28 percent respectively, suggesting more robust labor markets. Balochistan follows closely with 38.99 percent, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reports the lowest employment rate at 29.91 percent, highlighting potential economic or structural challenges in the province. In terms of paid employment, Sindh leads with 41.75 percent, reflecting a stronger presence of formal wage-earning jobs, followed by Punjab at 34.14 percent and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Employment Total Rural Urban Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Population 10 Years & Above 171,714 ,532 88,533, 171 83,181, 361 102,453 ,550 52,403, 111 50,050, 439 69,260, 982 36,130, 060 33,130, 922 Employed 38.57 59.68 16.1 39.22 58.61 18.93 37.59 61.23 11.81 Paid Employee 34.97 37.92 23.31 23.47 27.85 9.28 52.71 51.9 57.28 Own Account (Agri) 16.88 19.09 8.18 24.99 29.53 10.3 4.36 4.6 3.04 Own Account (Non-A) 19.77 23.36 5.6 14.64 17.72 4.66 27.69 31.2 7.89 Employer 5.65 6.29 3.1 5.01 5.68 2.84 6.62 7.14 3.72 Unpaid F.Helper (agri) 14.78 9.34 36.24 23.64 15.62 49.61 1.1 0.61 3.88 Unpaid F.Helper (Non-A) 7.95 4 23.56 8.24 3.59 23.3 7.51 4.55 24.19 Unemployed 10.91 11.37 10.42 12.79 13.37 12.18 8.13 8.47 7.75 Not L.F & Stud (15 to 24) 40.7 23.9 58.41 55.77 42.91 25.02 61.54 59.78 37.33
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
NATIONAL CENSUS REPORT 159
4.8 Migration
Migration is to move from one place, or locality to another due to any reason. In Census 2023
the migration has been captured as Intra provincial migration and Inter provincial migration.
Intra provincial migration is the movement of people from one geographic area to
another within the same province or territory. The district or city of birth within the province
is different from her/his district/city of enumeration within the province.
Inter provincial migration is the movement of people from one province or territory
to another within a country
Population
Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa
Punjab
Sindh
Balochistan Islamabad
Employed
29.91
40.45
40.28
38.99
37.07
Paid Employee
33.09
34.14
41.75
14.72
55.74
Own Account (Agri)
13.72
17.78
16.13
20.39
4.37
Own Account (Non-A)
18.91
21.71
15.25
19.93
26.64
Employer
5.14
6.22
4.87
3.95
6.93
Unpaid F.Helper (agri)
6.20
8.84
6.57
9.55
3.45
Unpaid F.Helper (Non-A)
6.20
8.84
6.57
9.55
3.45
Unemployed
46.19
22.20
27.86
53.68
19.15
Not L.F & Stud (15 to 24)
47.87
36.93
42.56
46.61
33.34
33.09 percent. Balochistan, however, has a significantly lower share
of
paid employees at just 14.72 percent, indicating a higher dependence on informal or self-employed work. Agricultural own-account workers are most prominent in Balochistan at 20.39 percent, followed by Punjab at 17.78 percent and Sindh at 16.13 percent, pointing to agriculture's continued importance in these
economies.
For
non-agricultural
own-account
work,
Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa
shows
the highest proportion at 18.91 percent, followed closely by Balochistan at 19.93 percent.
The
share
of
the
population
working
as
employers
remains
relatively
low
across
all provinces, ranging from 3.95 percent in Balochistan to 6.22 percent in Punjab. Unpaid family helpers,
both
in
agriculture
and
non-agriculture,
are
particularly
prevalent
in
Balochistan, where 9.55 percent
of
the population is engaged in such work highlighting the role
of
family labor in the region’s economic structure
Unemployment is a major concern, especially in Balochistan, which records the highest unemployment rate at 53.68 percent, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 46.19 percent. Sindh and
Punjab
show
relatively
lower
unemployment
levels,
at
27.86
percent
and
22.20
percent respectively. Additionally, a large proportion
of
youth aged fifteen to twenty-four is not part
of the
labor
force
or
is
engaged
in
studies,
with
Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa
again
leading
at
47.87 percent, followed by Balochistan at 46.61 percent, Sindh
at 42.56 percent, and Punjab at 36.93 percent. These figures underline the need for region-specific strategies to boost employment opportunities and youth
engagement across the country. Table
4.26: Province wise Percentage
of
Population by Employment, Census-2023
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
NATIONAL CENSUS REPORT 160
The migration in Table 4.27 is calculated for the person whose district of birth is different from current district of residence. In Census 2023, migration to abroad is not captured as the objective is to capture the movement within the province and from one province to another province.
The Table 4.27 reveals that total migration in Pakistan is 5.44% which is higher for urban areas 9.00% as compared to rural areas with 3.19%. The total male migration is 5.14% which is high in urban areas with 8.92% as compare to rural with 2.72%. The total female migration is 5.75% which is higher in urban areas with 9.08% as compare to rural with 3.68%.
Table 4.27: Percentage of Migration by Gender and Rural / Urban
Indicators
Total
Rural
Urban
Total
Male
Female
Trans
Gender
Total
Male
Female
Trans
Gender
Total
Male
Female
Trans
gender
Migration
5.44
5.14
5.75
13.94
3.19
2.72
3.68
9.40
9.00
8.92
9.08
15.37
Reasons Migration
Job/ Business
19.84
37.42
3.15
35.87
15.30
31.65
2.61
32.97
22.37
40.16
3.50
36.43
Education
4.21
5.95
2.55
2.08
2.64
4.12
1.49
1.76
5.09
6.82
3.25
2.14
Marriage
19.62
1.16
37.16
0.07
25.70
1.47
44.52
0.22
16.22
1.01
32.37
0.04
With family
43.08
38.77
47.18
7.76
41.19
41.47
40.99
11.43
44.13
37.49
51.20
7.06
Back To Home
0.36
0.50
0.23
0.32
0.46
0.73
0.24
0.44
0.31
0.38
0.22
0.29
Others
12.90
16.21
9.73
53.90
14.71
20.55
10.16
53.19
11.88
14.14
9.45
54.03
The perception of moving to urban areas is substantiated by the evidence from data for reasons
of migration as illustrated in Figure 4.20. It is found that highest reason cited for migration is
moving with family with 43.08% followed by job/business with 19.84%, others with 12.90%,
marriage with 19.62% and education with 4.21%.
Figure 4.20: Reasons of Migration by Rural/Urban
Analyses of migration by age groups shows that the migration in the age group 25-40 as
depicted in figure 4.21 is highest with 31.35% from all other age groups, followed by 41-60
age group with 23.20% and 15-24 age group with 18.55%. Remaining groups have less
concentration of migrated population The age group 25-40 years is the group of young
population where the reason for migration of population is due to job/ business and marriage.
19.84
4.02
19.62
43.28
0.35
12.90
15.30
2.48
25.70
41.37
0.45
14.71
22.37
4.88
16.21
44.36
0.30
11.88
Job/ Business
Education
Marriage
With family
Back To Home
Others
Total
Rural
Urban
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
NATIONAL CENSUS REPORT 161
Figure 4.21: Migration by age groups According to the 2023 Census, migration rates across Pakistan’s regions show significant variation as depicted in Table 4.28. Islamabad has the highest migration rate at 47.40%, followed by Punjab at 5.75%, Sindh at 5.44%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 3.01%, and Balochistan with the lowest rate of 2.96%.
The high migration rate in Islamabad can be attributed to its status as the capital city, offering better infrastructure, economic opportunities, and resources, attracting people from various regions for employment, education, and improved living standards. Punjab and Sindh have moderate migration rates, reflecting their large urban centers like Lahore and Karachi, which are major economic hubs that draw people for work and education. Table 4.28: Percentage of Migration by Provinces, Census-2023
On the other hand, Balochistan has the lowest migration rate, likely due to fewer economic opportunities, geographic challenges, and a relatively less urbanized environment. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also has a relatively low migration rate, possibly due to regional instability or limited economic pull compared to other provinces.
These migration trends reflect the disparities in economic development, urbanization, and social opportunities across the country, with Islamabad leading due to its central position and the higher concentration of resources and opportunities Area/ Province Migration Census-2023 Total Male Female Transgender Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 3.01 2.92 3.11 18.17 Punjab 5.75 5.11 6.41 12.75 Sindh 5.44 5.60 5.25 14.28 Balochistan 2.96 2.96 2.96 5.75 Islamabad 47.40 47.71 47.05 76.30 4.90 6.48 4.48 3.08 18.55 31.35 23.20 7.96 0-4 5-9 10-12 13-14 15-24 25-40 41-60
60