A new Labour Force Survey report from the Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS) has revealed that 74.8 percent of the working population in the capital city of Male' is employed.
The report, covering the first quarter of this year, provides a snapshot of the city's labor market, highlighting a notable gender gap in employment.
According to the survey, the working-age population (aged 15 and over) in Male' is 187,390, comprising 127,696 locals and 59,694 foreigners. Out of this group, 140,255 individuals, or 74.8 percent, are employed.
The report also sheds light on those who are unemployed.
The survey found that 2,176 people are actively looking for work, with the vast majority (2,064) being Maldivians. A gender breakdown shows that women make up the largest portion of this group, with 1,101 women seeking jobs.
The total number of unemployed individuals stands at 44,959, representing 24 percent of the working population. Of this group, 7,622 are classified as "employable" by the survey.
The survey highlights a significant disparity in employment rates between men and women with the employment rate for working-age men is 77.5 percent while the employment rate for working-age women is considerably lower, at 51.6 percent.
The Labour Force Survey was conducted to gather essential data for policymaking and economic planning. Its objectives include, identifying the economically active population, determining the proportion of employed individuals and the rate of new job creation, providing data on employed and unemployed populations along with collecting data to inform migration rates and update population projections.