Labour force participation in Mauritius
The share of adults (15+) who are either working or looking for work.
Where it stands
About 58-59%. Roughly 4 in 10 adults are outside the labour force: students, retirees and people caring for family.
What it means
With an ageing population this rate will drift down unless more women, older workers and young people join in. Longer maternity and paternity leave, childcare and flexible retirement are not just social policy: every extra worker helps fund pensions.
Recent years
| Year | Labour force participation |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 52.6% |
| 2022 | 55.6% |
| 2023 | 59% |
| 2024 | 58.7% |
| 2025 | 58.5% |
Why it moved
2021: Many people stopped looking for work during lockdowns, so participation fell.
2022: People returned to the job market as the economy reopened.
2023: Fully recovered to about 59%.
2024: Slight dip as more people reached retirement age.
2025: Flat to slightly lower: the ageing effect.