Uganda had 1.89 million unemployed people between July and September 2026, according to the latest Labour Market Survey released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). The survey puts the national unemployment rate at 11.7%, while unemployment among young people remains higher, reaching 15.4% for those aged 15–24 and 14.6% for those aged 18–30.
The figures show the scale of the challenge facing an economy with a working-age population of 28.87 million people. Of these, 16.14 million were in the labour force, while approximately 14.25 million were employed. The employment-to-population ratio stood at 49.3%, meaning fewer than half of people aged 15 and above were employed during the survey period.
The picture is wider than the number of people actively looking for work. UBOS estimates that another 4.78 million people were part of the potential labour force. This group includes people who were available to work but had not actively searched for employment, as well as those who had looked for work but were not available to start. Their circumstances suggest that the pressure on Uganda’s labour market extends beyond those counted as unemployed.
Young people carry a significant share of this burden. The survey estimates that 646,892 people aged 15–24 and 993,481 aged 18–30 were unemployed. Long periods without work are also a concern: 53.2% of unemployed people aged 18–30 had been unemployed for at least a year.
Women face additional barriers. Overall unemployment among women stood at 13.3%, compared with 10.3% among men. For those aged 18–30, the gap was wider, with unemployment at 18.6% among women and 11.4% among men. The employment-to-population ratio was also lower for women, at 41.9%, compared with 57.9% for men.
These inequalities were among the issues raised at an Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) stakeholders’ consultation on youth employment in Kampala on October 21, 2026. Dr Shaft Nasser Mukwaya, Secretary to the Commission, highlighted the challenges young people face in accessing employment.
Beatrice Ayikoru of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development identified early marriage, girls’ care responsibilities and school dropout as barriers affecting young women’s employment prospects. The EOC reported these remarks as part of its account of the consultation.
The nature of available work presents another challenge. Services account for 49% of employment in Uganda, followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing at 37.7%, while industry accounts for 13.3%. UBOS also reports that 86.9% of employment outside agriculture, forestry and fishing is informal. The rate is higher among women, at 90.4%, compared with 83.9% among men.
This difference matters because having work does not always mean having a stable or sufficient income. Many Ugandans earn a living through small businesses, casual work and self-employment, often without predictable earnings or the protections associated with formal employment. The survey puts time-related underemployment at 18.2%, meaning some people who are working would like and are available to work additional hours.
At the EOC consultation, Milton Owori of the National Social Security Fund said Uganda needs to create about 900,000 jobs annually. He proposed expanding apprenticeship opportunities from approximately 400 to at least 50,000 and increasing access to short courses in areas such as solar installation, coding and e-commerce. He also called for stronger implementation of the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda policy. These proposals point to the need for practical training and stronger links between employers and people entering the labour market.
However, skills development cannot create employment on its own. Businesses must also have the capacity to grow, invest and take on workers. Small and medium-sized enterprises need access to affordable finance, reliable electricity, technology and markets. Agriculture needs more processing and value addition, while manufacturing and other productive sectors need investment that can expand production and create jobs.
The latest survey therefore raises a question that goes beyond how many Ugandans are unemployed. It asks whether the economy is generating enough productive work for the people available to do it. The figures show that the challenge involves unemployment, informality, underemployment and unequal access to opportunities. Addressing it will require both a workforce with relevant skills and businesses capable of creating sustainable employment.
