A recent National Human Resource Survey by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has provided a detailed picture of employment in the country, showing how Ugandans are distributed across different sectors of the formal economy as of 2023/24. The findings give insight into where most people work and how the labour force is structured.
According to the report, Uganda has a total of 2,143,209 employees working in formal establishments. This figure represents people who are officially employed in recognized organizations, both in government and private institutions. It highlights the size and importance of the formal job market in supporting the country’s economy.
The survey further shows that the private sector is the largest employer, with 1,638,068 workers. This indicates that most formal jobs in Uganda are created by private businesses, companies, and organizations rather than the government. On the other hand, the public sector employs 505,141 people, making it a smaller but still significant contributor to national employment.
When looking at different industries, the education sector stands out as the biggest employer in the country. This is followed by trade, manufacturing, financial services, and insurance. These sectors continue to play a key role in providing jobs and supporting Uganda’s economic growth and development.
The report also highlights how employment is spread across different occupations and between men and women. It shows that males dominate in all sectors, meaning there are more men than women in formal employment across most industries. This points to a continuing gender imbalance in the labour market.
Overall, the findings from UBOS paint a clear picture of Uganda’s formal workforce. While the private sector is leading in job creation and education remains the top employer, the report also raises important questions about gender equality and the need to create more balanced opportunities in the job market.
