• Angola created more than 1.1 million formal jobs between 2018 and 2025, according to official data.

• The unemployment rate stood at 28.8% in the second quarter of 2025, with youth disproportionately affected.

• More than 78% of workers remain in the informal sector, limiting the impact of formal job growth.

Angola created more than 1.1 million formal jobs between 2018 and 2025, according to statistics published in October by the Ministry of Public Administration, Labor and Social Security, as authorities seek to demonstrate progress in employment policy despite persistent labor market pressures.

Minister Teresa Rodrigues Dias said the results reflect “coherent and articulated public policies” designed to promote professional integration, formalize economic activity and strengthen social protection.

The ministry recorded these jobs through formal sector registration and administrative monitoring mechanisms. The data show sustained momentum over several years, supported by the post-oil crisis recovery, macroeconomic adjustments and economic diversification efforts. The figures also reflect modernization of the ministry’s statistical tools and improvements in employment, civil service and vocational training data collection and processing.

Beyond job volumes, the ministry highlighted training progress. In 2024, the National Institute of Employment and Vocational Training provided professional training to more than 150,000 people. The institute supported several hundred thousand beneficiaries over the recent period. Authorities aim to align skills with market needs and improve youth employability, as young people face higher exposure to unemployment.

A Labor Market Still Under Strain

Recent data show that unemployment remains elevated. The National Institute of Statistics reported in its August 2025 Employment Survey that the unemployment rate for people aged 15 and over reached around 28.8% in the second quarter of 2025. Although the rate declined compared with previous years, nearly one in three active individuals remained without work.

Youth unemployment remains a key concern. People aged 15 to 24 account for a significant share of the unemployed population, increasing social and economic risks in a country with a predominantly young population. The 2025 Employment Survey showed that the labor force aged 15 and above increased by 0.2% compared with the previous quarter. The data reflect the steady entry of new graduates into the labor market and intensify pressure on the formal economy’s capacity to absorb them.

The scale of the informal sector presents another major challenge. More than 78% of workers remain engaged in undeclared, often precarious and low-productivity activities. This situation limits access to social protection, reduces tax revenues and complicates accurate measurement of employment trends. In this context, the increase in registered formal jobs signals progress, but the data capture only part of the labor market.

Angola’s economy remains heavily dependent on hydrocarbons despite diversification efforts. The International Monetary Fund stated that the country faces a major challenge in creating sustainable and skilled jobs. Trade, services, construction and agriculture absorb a large share of the workforce, but the economy must develop higher value-added employment to sustain growth and improve labor market integration.

The government’s headline figure reflects genuine job creation and formalization momentum over five years. However, the broader impact depends on unemployment trends, job quality and the training system’s ability to meet the needs of a transforming economy.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM