Bandar seri begawan: The Preliminary Report of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2025 has revealed that the working-age population, defined as individuals aged 18 and above, has increased by 0.8 percent, rising from 346,000 in 2024 to 348,700 in 2025. Of this population, 66.5 percent participated in the labour force, leaving 33.5 percent outside of it. The Department of Economic Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Finance and Economy, highlighted a decrease in the employed population, which fell by 0.9 percent from 222,300 in 2024 to 220,400 in 2025.
According to Radio Television Brunei, local workers were the predominant contributors to the employment sector, representing 70.9 percent of the employed population. The unemployment rate saw a slight uptick, increasing from 4.7 percent in 2024 to 5 percent in 2025. There was also an increase in the number of individuals outside the labour force, which rose to 116,700 from 112,800 in 2024. This group includes individuals aged 60 and above, many of whom are recipients of the Old Age Pension, indicating a growing trend. Notably, the majority of those outside the labour force were females. The Preliminary Report of the LFS 2025 is accessible on the DEPS website at deps.mofe.gov.bn.