How is the labor market in Afghanistan divided between agriculture, industry and services?

In the 2021 labor force survey, agriculture accounted for about 49% of employment, construction for 12%, manufacturing for 6%, and trade, transport, accommodation, food, business and administrative activities together for 19%. Public, community and social services accounted for about 11%, while mining and utilities represented about 1%.

Which institutions support job access and labor-market information in Afghanistan?

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs provides vacancy and employment-registration channels, while TVETA coordinates technical and vocational training. ACBAR operates a vacancy board organized by province and category, and chambers of commerce support business networks, but Afghanistan has no evidenced nationwide integrated public employment service.

How can workers gain qualifications for the labor market in Afghanistan?

Formal technical and vocational programs operate in all 34 provinces and 231 districts, with about 68,202 students and pathways lasting two to five years. Non-formal courses usually last three to twelve months, while market apprenticeships such as Ustad Shagerdi provide practical training outside formal institutions.

How do gender and rural location affect access to the labor market in Afghanistan?

Women face major restrictions on mobility, employment and education, and many work from home or in small-scale manufacturing. About 79% of employed young people and 73% of unemployed young people were in rural areas in 2023, where terrain, security, transport and limited services further restrict access.

How does return migration affect the labor market in Afghanistan?

Large-scale returns increase the supply of workers and competition for jobs, especially where returnees lack documents, savings or local networks. About 2 million 900 thousand people returned in 2025, including approximately 1 million 420 thousand deportations; livelihood programs, daily labor and small businesses are common reintegration pathways.

Labor market in Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s labor market is fragmented across formal, non-formal and informal work. Agriculture remains the largest source of employment, while construction, trade, transport, manufacturing and services provide additional opportunities. Access to work depends strongly on province, gender, education, mobility, security, documentation and access to finance.

byAmina&Mohammad

The Afghan labor market has no single national institution that organizes all work. Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority, National Statistics and Information Authority, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, chambers of commerce, ACBAR and international organizations each cover different functions. Formal jobs, non-formal activities and informal work operate in parallel. Informal employment accounted for 58.7% of employment in 2024, including 60.7% among men, 55.9% among women and 69.4% among young people. Informal workers often face unstable earnings, irregular working hours and limited access to occupational safety, social protection and paid benefits.

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