Egypt's government statistics agency CAPMAS said Thursday that there were some 2.3 million unemployed people in Egypt--representing 9.4 percent of the national workforce--according to 2009 figuresIn a recent report, the agency noted that 46.8 percent of the 20-24 age bracket were unemployed, as were 21 percent of the 25-29 age bracket and 16.3 percent of the 15-19 age bracket. Of the total, 23 percent were female and 5 percent male.
The report also noted that there were 22.9 million working people in Egypt, of which 4.5 million are female. The average monthly income for both the public and private sectors was put at LE1316.
According to the report, the highest average salary--LE3588--was found in the brokerage and insurance sectors; the lowest--LE540--in the education sector.
CAPMAS also noted that 60 percent of the national workforce consisted of employees, while 11.1 percent were self-employed.
Some critics, however, question the reliability of the figures.
"I don't trust official statistics," said Abdel Rahman Kheir, labor representative at the Supreme Council for Wages. He added that workers would continue to demand a higher minimum wage in order to maintain current living standards in the face of soaring inflation.
