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3.3 Million Jobs Hit by Pakistan's 2025 Floods, ILO Assessment Reveals

The International Labour Organisation reports that the 2025 floods in Pakistan have affected approximately 3.3 million jobs, with the vast majority of losses concentrated in rural areas and the agricultural sector. The assessment, conducted with UN partners, found that immediate relief has been provided but comprehensive support is needed to restore livelihoods. ILO officials warn the floods have severely deepened economic vulnerability for at-risk communities. Recovery measures recommended include cash-for-work programmes, skills training, and subsidised credit to help households restart economic activities.

Key Points: Pakistan Floods Affect 3.3 Million Jobs: ILO Report

  • 3.3 million jobs affected
  • Rural areas & agriculture hardest hit
  • Calls for cash-for-work & skills training
  • Floods deepened economic vulnerability
  • UN agencies collaborated on assessment
2 min read

3.3 million jobs affected in Pakistan by 2025 floods: ILO

ILO assessment shows 2025 Pakistan floods devastated livelihoods, with 3.3 million jobs affected, primarily in agriculture and rural areas.

"There is a need for timely measures that support decent work, income recovery, and promote long-term resilience to climate-induced disasters. - Geir Tonstol"

Islamabad, April 21

The International Labour Organisation, a specialised United Nations agency, has stated that an employment and livelihoods loss assessment has been undertaken by it for 14 of the worst-affected districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, local media reported on Tuesday.

The flood-affected districts of Punjab province bore the majority of employment losses and disruption, according to the assessment of the ILO. Almost 78 per cent of the total estimated employment losses are accounted for in the rural areas, and agriculture is the most affected sector, with service and industry sectors following it, Pakistan's leading daily dawn reported.

According to the ILO assessment, around 3.3 million jobs may have been affected by the 2025 floods in Pakistan.

The assessment was in support of the validation and review of the Preliminary Assessment of 2025 Flood Damages. It was a collective exercise with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the overall technical lead and supported by the United Nations, Asian Development Bank, European Union, and the World Bank.

Immediate relief and resettlement needs were addressed by the provincial compensation measures, noted the assessment, but to restore livelihoods and income-generating activities in flood-affected areas, comprehensive support is needed, said ILO.

Cash-for-work programmes, skills training, and subsidised credit, to help affected households restart small-scale farm and non-farm economic activities, were recommended as a package of recovery measures by the ILO.

Reacting on the outcome of the assessment, Pakistan's Overseas and Human Resource Development Minister Salik Hussain said that serious damage was caused by the floods, especially for the daily wage earners, small farmers, self-employed workers and vulnerable households in rural areas.

Meanwhile, ILO Country Director for Pakistan, Geir Tonstol, said that the floods have deepened economic vulnerability for already at-risk communities. "There is a need for timely measures that support decent work, income recovery, and promote long-term resilience to climate-induced disasters," asserted Tonstol.

The need to revive the World of Work Crisis Response Strategy developed in the aftermath of the 2022 floods was highlighted by the ILO Country Director, so that in future the disaster response can be more timely, coordinated and centred on the protection and recovery of employment and livelihoods.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The scale of this is unimaginable. My heart goes out to all the families affected, especially the daily wage workers. It's a stark reminder of how climate change is hitting our region the hardest. We need to learn from each other's experiences. The cash-for-work and skills training recommendations sound very practical.
R
Rohit P
A very sobering report. 78% losses in rural areas shows where the real pain is. Agriculture is the backbone for so many. While the international agencies are stepping in, I do hope the local administration is effective in delivering the relief and recovery packages. Corruption can often derail such well-intentioned plans.
S
Sarah B
Reading this from a development perspective, the emphasis on "long-term resilience" is key. Immediate relief is crucial, but rebuilding livelihoods sustainably is the bigger challenge. The ILO's strategy for a coordinated response is a lesson for all South Asian nations facing increased climate volatility.
V
Vikram M
Terrible news. No one should have to go through this. It makes you think about our own disaster preparedness in Indian states prone to floods. Are our systems robust enough? This isn't about politics, it's about basic humanity and being prepared for nature's fury. Wishing strength to all affected.
K
Karthik V
A respectful criticism: While the assessment and recommendations are thorough, I hope the implementation is swift. Often in such crises, bureaucracy slows down the actual help reaching people. The minister has acknowledged the damage; now action is needed. The focus on decent work and income recovery is the right way forward.

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