Worrying Unemployment Levels

LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT VERY WORRYING

Things are not the same anymore. Jobs found students before graduation but today the country's ability to create jobs equal to the ever expanding labor-force is limited. This is due to local and international factors. According to statistics from the ministry of labor, Uganda has a labor force of slightly above 13 million people, with 6 million fully employed while 7 million are either underemployed or unemployed. Among the employed, 300,000 work in public service and about 5.7 are employed in the private sector.

Statistics from Uganda Bureau Of Statistics (UBOS) indicate that of the over 400,000 Ugandans that enter the job market annually, only 113,000 are absorbed in the formal sector, leaving the rest searching for jobs in the informal sector. National unemployment stands at 3.5%, unemployment among the youths (18-30 yrs.) stands at 32.2 per cent while unemployment among the degree holders is at 36%.

Experts assert that unemployment is due to low levels of investment, creativity and innovation.

With a big percentage of the investments being by foreigners means, their withdraw from the industry would live hundreds of youths jobless. Experts say the solution is encouraging investments by creating a conducive business climate and imparting vocational knowledge  to equip university students with skills necessary for job creation.

By Kwikiriza Steven.