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.



South Korea’s Food Exports Rose to $6.2 Billion in 6 Months

A worker at a supermarket in South Korea puts bags of instant noodles on the shelves (Yonhap news agency)
A worker at a supermarket in South Korea puts bags of instant noodles on the shelves (Yonhap news agency)
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South Korea’s Food Exports Rose to $6.2 Billion in 6 Months

A worker at a supermarket in South Korea puts bags of instant noodles on the shelves (Yonhap news agency)
A worker at a supermarket in South Korea puts bags of instant noodles on the shelves (Yonhap news agency)

South Korea's exports of food and related goods rose 5.2% on-year in the first half of 2024, government data showed, led by the popularity of instant noodles and processed rice products.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said that outbound shipments of the food segment known as “K-Food Plus” reached $6.21 billion, compared with $5.9 billion posted a year earlier, the country’s Yonhap new agency reported on Saturday.
K-Food Plus encompasses a diverse range of food products and related items, from fresh and processed goods to agricultural equipment and solutions.
By product, exports of instant noodles jumped 32.3% to hit $590.2 million, with those of processed rice products gaining 41.4 percent to $136.9 million, the data showed.
The ministry attributed the growth in instant noodle exports to the popularity of social media content featuring spicy product challenges, as well as the release of customized products by exporters.
South Korean rice products also gained popularity, as frozen gimbap, or seaweed rice rolls, attracted significant attention in the US market as a gluten-free and healthy eating option, the ministry said.
By destination, exports to the US surged 17%, reaching $736 million, driven by increased demand due to revitalized consumer spending, a stabilizing labor market and eased inflation.
Exports to China also edged up 3.1% to $702 million, as exporters utilized online platforms and influencers to promote South Korean foodstuffs.
Shipments to Japan, on the other hand, declined by 7% during the period to $671.3 million, due to the reduced spending power of Japanese consumers, the ministry added.