Unemployment Rate Increases to 7.5% in Egypt

A view of the city skyline and River Nile from Cairo tower building in the capital of Cairo, Egypt December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
A view of the city skyline and River Nile from Cairo tower building in the capital of Cairo, Egypt December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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Unemployment Rate Increases to 7.5% in Egypt

A view of the city skyline and River Nile from Cairo tower building in the capital of Cairo, Egypt December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
A view of the city skyline and River Nile from Cairo tower building in the capital of Cairo, Egypt December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Egypt’s unemployment rate went up 0.2 percent to 7.5 percent in Q3 2021, from 7.3 percent in the previous quarter, the state statistics agency said on Tuesday.

The total number of employees increased by 0.9 percent to 29.380 million in the July-September period, compared to 29.115 million in Q2 2021, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) added.

It attributed this increase to the influx of new graduates during August and September into the labor market, which led to an rise in the unemployment rate in this quarter.

The urban labor force recorded 13.187 million individuals, while the rural labor force stood at 16.193 million.

The number of male employees stood at 24.277 million, whereas the number of female employees reached 5.103 million.

The number of unemployed people reached 2.211 million in Q3 2021, representing 7.5 percent of the labor force, up from 2.155 million in Q2 2021.

Meanwhile, MISR Cement Group, previously known as Misr Cement – Qena Group, unveiled its new identity.

Capitalizing on its exceptional heritage, the group’s companies are now united under one competent management, adopting a new strategy of supremacy.

The Group embraced four key strategic axes, namely enhancing production capabilities, growing for leadership, positively impacting the environment and building internal potential.

It is a prominent group of cement and building materials manufacturing companies in Egypt, comprised of Misr Cement Qena, Misr Cement Minya and Misr Cement Beton.

“Committed to keeping pace with the market’s updates and addressing challenges, we adjusted the group’s strategy and policies to join forces under one umbrella, integrating our deep-rooted corporate values into its weave,” said Eng. Tarek Talaat, the Managing Director of MISR Cement Group.



Saudi Arabia Sees Highest Level of Non-oil Private Sector Activity in 4 Months

The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Sees Highest Level of Non-oil Private Sector Activity in 4 Months

The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Business activity in Saudi Arabia's non-oil sector accelerated to a four-month high in September, driven by strong demand, which led to faster growth in new orders. The Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), adjusted for seasonal factors, rose to 56.3 points from 54.8 in August, marking the highest reading since May and further distancing itself from the 50.0 level that indicates growth.

The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders, alongside challenges in supply. The improvement in business conditions contributed to a significant rise in employment opportunities, although difficulties in finding skilled workers led to a shortage in production capacity.

At the same time, concerns over increasing competition caused a decline in future output expectations. According to the PMI statement, inventories of production inputs remained in good condition, which encouraged some companies to reduce their purchasing efforts.

Growth was strong overall and widespread across all non-oil sectors under study. Dr. Naif Al-Ghaith, Senior Economist at Riyad Bank, said that the rise in Saudi Arabia's PMI points to a notable acceleration in the growth of the non-oil private sector, primarily driven by increased production and new orders, reflecting the sector’s expansionary activity.

Al-Ghaith added that companies responded to the rise in domestic demand, which plays a crucial role in reducing the Kingdom's reliance on oil revenues. The upward trend also indicates improved business confidence, pointing to a healthy environment for increased investment, job creation, and overall economic stability.

He emphasized that this growth in the non-oil sector is particularly important given the current context of reduced oil production and falling global oil prices. With oil revenues under pressure, the strong performance of the non-oil private sector acts as a buffer, helping mitigate the potential impact on the country's economic conditions.

Al-Ghaith continued, noting that diversifying income sources is essential to maintaining growth amid the volatility of oil markets. He explained that increased production levels not only enhance the competitiveness of Saudi companies but also encourage developments aimed at expanding the private sector's participation in the economy.

This shift, he said, provides a more stable foundation for long-term growth, making the economy less susceptible to oil price fluctuations.