Unemployment Rate: Uzbekistan

Analysis# Uzbekistan Unemployment Rate Uzbekistan's unemployment rate stands at 4.5% in 2026, reflecting a substantial 13.5-percentage-point decline since 2002. The current level sits well below the nation's all-time peak of 10.5% reached in 2020, though it remains above the historic low of 3% recorded in 2005. Over the past quarter-century, the trajectory has been generally downward, with the country recovering from elevated joblessness to levels approaching pre-pandemic conditions. The 2020 pandemic surge represents the most dramatic turning point in the data, with unemployment spiking to double digits before entering a consistent downward trend. From that peak, annual improvements have persisted through 2026, with the rate declining 6 percentage points in six years. The steady recovery suggests Uzbekistan's labor market has stabilized, with projections indicating continued moderation if current momentum holds.