The Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS) Labor Force Report has revealed that 53 percent of the working Maldivian population living in Malé is employed in government offices. The survey collected labor market data from all individuals aged 15 and older within sample households during the reference quarters of the report.

According to the Labor Force Survey (LFS) statistics, the working-age population (15 years and older) in Malé reached 188,062 between October 2024 and September 2025. This population consists of 128,129 Maldivians and 59,933 foreigners, with expatriates making up approximately one-third (32 percent) of the total working-age population.

An institutional sector breakdown shows that the state is the primary employer for Maldivians. This includes government ministries, independent institutions, the judiciary, the police, the defense sector, the People’s Majlis, and state-owned enterprises. Combined, these public sectors account for the employment of 53 percent of the Maldivian workforce. In contrast, the vast majority of foreign workers (88.6 percent) are employed within the private sector.

For the 2024-2025 period, the number of unemployed individuals was recorded at 3,289. In proportion to the national population, the unemployment rate stands at 3.7 percent, with a rate of 3.3 percent for men and 4.3 percent for women. Among youth aged 15 to 34, the unemployment rate is 4.6 percent, compared to 2.9 percent for those aged 35 and older. Women account for 60.3 percent of the total unemployed population.

The report also noted that there are 2,398 individuals classified as not currently working, within a broader category of 11,956 people who are outside the primary labor force definitions.