Unemployment Rate: Brunei Darussalam

Analysis# Brunei Darussalam Unemployment Rate Brunei Darussalam's unemployment rate stood at 4.7% in 2026, down significantly from its all-time peak of 9.3% in 2018. The current level remains above the nation's lowest recorded rate of 2.7% in 2011, reflecting a 74.1% increase over the 15-year period. Despite this long-term rise, the recent trajectory shows marked improvement as the country rebounds from pandemic-era challenges. The most striking shift occurred between 2018 and 2022, when unemployment fell from 9.3% to 4.9%—a dramatic reversal spanning just four years. This recovery coincided with economic restructuring efforts and labor market stabilization. The rate has remained relatively stable since 2022, hovering between 4.7% and 5.2%, suggesting the labor market has found a new equilibrium below pre-2017 levels.