Unemployment rate (annual) in Algeria

Measures the share of Algeria's labour force that is without work and actively seeking a job. Compiled by the National Statistics Office (ONS), it is the main indicator of the state of the Algerian labour market.

It is estimated from ONS employment surveys applying the ILO definition of unemployment. It is expressed as an annual percentage of the labour force; publication in Algeria is irregular and released with a considerable lag.

In an economy heavily dependent on hydrocarbons, the unemployment rate captures the ability to diversify and create jobs beyond the public sector. A high reading, especially among the young, is a source of social tension; the effect on the dinar is limited by the managed exchange-rate regime.

The large informal sector and the high youth and female unemployment are not well reflected in the headline figure. Infrequent publication, sampling error and revisions reduce comparability over time.