The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) has released findings from Egypt’s sixth economic census, revealing significant insights into the structure of the country’s economy. The data shows a 3.1 percent increase in the number of economic establishments over five years, reaching 3.858 million, while employment within these establishments rose by 13.1 percent to 15.2 million workers.
A notable trend highlighted by the census is the concentration of businesses and employees in low-wage sectors. Wholesale and retail trade accounts for 54.4 percent of all establishments, with an average monthly wage of EGP 3,805 during the 2022–2023 reference period. This sector also experienced substantial labor growth, adding 400,000 jobs to reach 5.4 million employed, marking a 7.2 percent rise. The category labeled “other activities,” which includes informal or miscellaneous services, hosts 27.4 percent of establishments and reports one of the lowest average wages at EGP 3,327.
In relative terms, transportation and storage, education, and administrative services recorded the highest employment growth rates at 92.3 percent, 65.9 percent, and 65.5 percent respectively. However, these sectors generally fall within the lower to middle range of wage levels, indicating a broader pattern of workforce expansion in less remunerative fields.
Conversely, utilities—including electricity, gas, and air conditioning supply—saw a 19.1 percent decline in employment despite offering one of the highest average salaries at EGP 21,762. This drop is attributed to reduced hiring in the public and state-owned enterprise sectors, according to Mustafa Saad, head of economic research at CAPMAS. Manufacturing followed with a minor 0.5 percent reduction in workforce, though it remains among the top sectors in terms of business concentration.
The informal economy remains a major component of Egypt’s labor market. Wholesale and retail trade alone accounts for 51 percent of informal jobs. Informal employment represents 27.3 percent of total private-sector workers, amounting to approximately 3.9 million individuals. Wages paid through informal channels constitute 8.3 percent of total private-sector compensation. Additionally, informal establishments make up 50.7 percent of all private-sector businesses, though this share has slightly decreased from over 54 percent in the previous census cycle.
Beyond formal and informal establishments, the census introduces new data on non-establishment-based workers—excluding agricultural labor—counting 7.5 million individuals. These are typically irregular or freelance workers not formally tied to a specific business, such as plumbers or independent artisans. Combined with informal-sector employees, this brings the total number of workers in vulnerable employment conditions to over 11.4 million.
This edition of the economic census also incorporates new dimensions in data collection, including questions on e-commerce, outsourcing services, and green economy activities, reflecting structural shifts in Egypt’s economic landscape. These additions aim to provide policymakers with more comprehensive tools for strategic planning and inclusive development.
— news from madamasr