A new Labour Force Survey by the Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS) shows that 74.8 percent of the working-age population in the capital Male’ is employed, though a significant gender gap persists.
The survey, covering the first quarter of this year, found that Male’ has a working-age population of 187,390 people—127,696 locals and 59,694 foreigners. Out of this group, 140,255 individuals are employed.
Unemployment remains a concern, with 2,176 people actively seeking jobs, the majority of them Maldivians. Women make up the largest share, with 1,101 currently job-hunting. Overall, 44,959 people—24 percent of the city’s working-age population—are unemployed, of which 7,622 are classified as “employable.”
The report highlights a stark gender divide: while 77.5 percent of men are employed, only 51.6 percent of women are engaged in the labor market.
MBS said the Labour Force Survey aims to provide critical data for policymaking, from tracking employment trends and migration rates to updating population projections.
