The report shows that 76 thousand new jobs were created at the beginning of 2024, 97 thousand of which are formal jobs, but with a reduction of 22 thousand informal jobs, the first major decrease recorded in this sector.
According to Cinvetec, this sudden decrease in informal employment does not follow the historical logic of the Angolan market, which has traditionally been characterized by the dominance of the informal economy.
The simultaneous decline in the activity rate, which fell by 2.8 percentage points in urban areas, and the large growth in the urban employment rate, which rose by 6.8 percentage points, are data that do not appear to be consistent. -consistent with the limited number of jobs created. .
In addition, the difference between urban and rural data also raises doubts for Cinvetec analysts. While the urban employment rate rose significantly, the rural employment rate fell significantly, from 76.2% to 61.8%. The rural unemployment rate, which at the end of 2023 was 11.4%, rose to 32.4%, the same value recorded in urban areas.
“These data do not reflect the reality of the rural market, where the majority of workers are involved in family agricultural activities,” said the report. Another source of concern for experts is the level or – formality.
In urban areas, informal employment increased to 74.6%, contradicting the expected growth in formal employment. However, in rural areas, where informality has always been the norm, the rate dropped from 95.5% to 89.0%, which also does not seem consistent with real conditions.
Lack of consistency in data
For Cinvetec, the lack of consistency in the data indicates that it was possible to reclassify employment criteria or errors in the collection of information, making a clear and fair analysis of the current situation difficult.
The crisis in the rural world, characterized by a lack of markets and resources to promote agricultural production, remains one of the biggest obstacles to the country’s economic recovery.
“Although the formal employment rate has increased slightly, the general employment situation in Angola remains poor, with a high level of informality and precarious working conditions, both in urban and rural areas”, the completion of the report.
