PIP: This paper presents the main characteristics of the labor force in Sharkia, a nonurban governorate in Lower Egypt, and relates these features to the demographic situation in the area. The data were derived largely from the 1960 and 1967 Censuses. The population growth rate in Sharkia Governorate was lower than that of the national population in the 1927-60 period and higher during the 1960-76 period. Sharkia is characterized by a high proportion of children and a low proportion of old people, reflecting its relatively high level of fertility. The population of working age (15-64 years) constituted 55% of Sharkia's population in 1976. The size of the labor force grew from 550,000 in 1960 to 748,000 in 1976, for an average annual rate of growth of 2.2%. Changes in population size accounted for 44% of this growth, whereas changes in the percentage of economically active persons in the population accounted for only 3.2%. The crude activity rate is higher in rural than urban areas, although female rates are higher in urban areas. An important consequence of the overall low economic activity rate, resulting from the youthful age structure and low female activity rates, is a heavy load of dependency. In 1976, the vast majority of workers (60%) were employed in the agricultural sector, although this statistic was only 17% in urban areas. The pattern for female workers is characterized by markedly higher proportions of white collar occupations (35% in 1976). Employees represented over half the labor force in 1976. The share of own-account and unpaid family workers stood at 19% and 9%, respectively, reflecting the declining significance of family enterprises. The unemployment rate in Sharkia was 7.2% in 1976 and reflected a sharp increase in the number of young people seeking their 1st job. Overall, the trends in the labor force in Sharkia are typical of those that normally accompany the process of economic development.