Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
Mozambique accounts for the largest share of labour migrants in Zimbabwe, according to the latest second-quarter statistics for 2025, indicating enduring regional labour mobility trends that underpin the country’s economic and social dynamics.
Data shows that of the 42,632 documented labour migrants in Zimbabwe during the period under review, Mozambicans constituted the highest proportion at 46.4 percent.
Zambia followed as the second major source of labour migrants at 16.2 percent, with South Africa contributing 13.1 percent.
These three neighbouring countries alone made up over 75 percent of the total migrant labour force in Zimbabwe, reflecting the strong historical, economic, and familial ties among Southern African nations.
Other significant contributors included Malawi (9.3 percent) and Botswana (6.5 percent).
Despite being further afield, European countries and the United Kingdom were also represented, accounting for 2.1 percent and 2.0 percent respectively.
The remaining 7.4 percent was shared among Asian countries (1.3 percent), other African countries (1.3 percent), and other global nations (1.9 percent), suggesting a smaller yet still notable level of global labour inflows into Zimbabwe.
The influx of regional migrants also reflects Zimbabwe’s gradual recovery in key sectors such as construction, agriculture, and informal trade, which continue to absorb migrant workers seeking better livelihoods.
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) has been ramping up its labour and migration data collection and dissemination efforts as part of broader efforts to inform policy on employment, skills mobility, and regional integration.
