Zimbabwe Creates Nearly Half A Million Jobs In Two Years: NSSA Data Raises Questions

Zimbabwe has created nearly half a million jobs in the past two years, according to figures released by the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), but the data is also raising questions about what the numbers truly represent on the ground.

The statistics show that 238 000 jobs were registered in 2025, up from 226 000 in 2024. In total, more than 464 000 jobs were recorded over the two-year period.

Officials Highlight Growth As Numbers Increase

The Sunday Mail reports that NSSA chief executive officer Dr Charles Shava said the rise reflects growing economic activity.

“The increase in registered employers and new employments is a positive indicator for the economy. It shows that businesses are expanding and more Zimbabweans are entering formal employment,” said Dr Shava.

“This also strengthens social protection coverage as more workers become part of the national social security system.”

The authority also recorded an increase in employers, rising from 4 600 in 2024 to 5 500 in 2025, representing a 15 percent jump.

Officials say this signals expansion in sectors such as mining, construction, manufacturing and transport, where investment and infrastructure projects have been ongoing.

Data Focuses On Formal Jobs Only

However, the figures are based on workers registered with NSSA, meaning they primarily reflect activity in the formal sector.

Zimbabwe’s labour market is widely understood to be dominated by informal employment, which is not fully captured in NSSA records.

The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency defines an employee as someone working more than 30 hours per week, but the data does not specify whether the newly created jobs are permanent, temporary, or part-time.

The number of active employees under NSSA increased from 1,36 million in 2024 to 1,39 million in 2025. Meanwhile, total registered employees — including inactive contributors — rose from 3,7 million to 3,9 million.

Observers say that while rising registration figures can point to increased activity, they do not necessarily reflect job quality, wages, or long-term stability.

Policies, Industry And Worker Concerns

The figures come as the government rolls out policies aimed at boosting industrial growth and formalising the economy.

These include the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy 2 (2026–2030), the National Employment Policy (2026–2030), and the National Formalisation Strategy.

Speaking during Workers’ Day commemorations in late April 2026, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said economic progress should translate into tangible benefits for workers.

“Economic growth must translate into improved livelihoods for ordinary Zimbabweans,” he said.

“Employers must avoid the casualisation of labour and ensure jobs are secure and in line with labour laws.”

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu pointed to increased activity in manufacturing.

“The performance of industry has brought with it numerous new jobs, similarly with commerce,” he said.

“At the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, I visited Paramount Garments in Bulawayo, and they are operating at almost 80 percent capacity, employing just over a thousand people.”

Recent figures show manufacturing capacity utilisation rising to 57 percent in early 2026, up from 47,7 percent during the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund has projected Zimbabwe’s economy to grow by 6 percent in 2026, driven by mining, agriculture and improved economic conditions.