The unemployment rate rose to an eight-month high of 9.2 per cent in June 2024, up from 7 per cent in the previous month. The female unemployment rate was higher than the national average at 18.5 per cent in June 2024. The male unemployment rate stood at 7.8 per cent

Rural areas continue to experience higher unemployment rates, with joblessness growing to 9.3 per cent in June 2024 from 6.3 per cent in May 2024 and 8.8 per cent in June 2023. For males in rural areas, the rate rose to 8.2 per cent in June 2024 from 5.4 per cent in May, and for females to 17.1 per cent from 12.0 per cent in the same period.
Urban areas saw a smaller increase, with the rate climbing to 8.9 per cent in June 2024 from 8.6 per cent in May. Women saw a steeper rise in urban areas as well (21.36 per cent in June 2024 compared to 18.53 per cent in May).