BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's working-age population, defined as individuals aged 18 and above, recorded a modest increase of 0.8 percent, rising from 346,000 in 2024 to 348,700 in 2025, according to the Labor Force Survey released by Brunei's Department of Economic Planning and Statistics on Wednesday.
The survey reported that of the total working-age population in 2025, 66.5 percent, or 232,000 individuals, were part of the labor force.
Meanwhile, 33.5 percent, equivalent to 116,700 people, were classified as outside the labor force. Those outside the labor force include retirees aged 60 and above, as well as individuals not actively seeking employment.
The survey also highlighted ongoing shifts in Brunei's labor market, noting a slight increase in unemployment alongside the growing working-age population. Brunei's unemployment rate rose to 5.0 percent in 2025, up from 4.7 percent recorded in 2024. ■