Unemployment rate (annual) in Tunisia

Measures the share of Tunisia's labour force that is without work and actively seeking a job. Compiled by Tunisia's National Institute of Statistics (INS), it is the main indicator of its labour market.

It is drawn from the INS National Population and Employment Survey applying the ILO definition of unemployment. It is expressed as an annual percentage of the labour force, an average of the quarterly readings.

Unemployment, very high among the young and graduates, is a structural problem and a source of social and political tension in Tunisia. A high reading intensifies pressure on reforms and public finances; the impact on the managed-float dinar is limited.

The indicator poorly reflects the high youth and graduate unemployment and the low female participation, while widespread informal employment distorts the reading. It is subject to seasonality, sampling error and revision.