Family & Society

How does Pakistan count women’s work in official labour statistics?

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Answer

Direct answer

The Labour Force Survey measures participation, employment, unemployment, hours, occupation, industry and related demographic characteristics. Its 2024–25 current-standard tables distinguish labour-force participation from unemployment and include separate unpaid-work activity tables.

Under the 19th ICLS standard, producing some goods only for household use is not classified in the same way as employment for pay or profit. Unpaid care remains real work even when it is outside the employment headline. Compare like definitions, age groups and survey rounds rather than treating every work measure as interchangeable.

Evidence

Sources used

Government Data · Live source

Labour Force Survey 2024–25 and earlier rounds

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics

Official tables and reports. Current 2024–25 tables use the 19th ICLS standard; earlier rounds and legacy-standard totals must be identified separately.

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Official Statistics · 2025

LFS 2024–25, Table 15: Labour Force Participation and Unemployment Rates

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics

National and provincial age/sex/area tables. The national headline rates use population aged 10+ and the current 19th ICLS employment definition, not married people only.

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Official Statistics · 2025

LFS 2024–25, Table 52: Mean Hours of Unpaid Care Work

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics

Read the activity-specific row and participant denominator. The 15.3 versus 6.8 hours comparison is the cleaning/cooking/clothes row, not all unpaid care or a married-couple split.

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