Categories: Stories

Bleak future for the unemployed

Although most countries in Africa are striving to create jobs for their citizens very few have comprehensive employment policies. As a result the bulk of population -60 percent- are still employed in agriculture.

Their employment is therefore seasonal as it depends on the weather patterns. In fact in the true sense they’re not employed as they actually only farm to feed themselves.

One disturbing aspect is that the majority of the unemployed are youths of between 15 and 24. They account for two thirds to three quarters of all unemployed.

Another disturbing feature is that most of the unemployed youths are educated. In the 70s it was primary school leavers who were victims of unemployment. In the 80s secondary school leavers joined the ranks of the unemployed. Right now unemployment is going up the ladder to include higher education graduates.

In Zimbabwe 34 percent of the unemployed youths have O-levels, while 22 percent have primary education. Despite this high unemployment rate the country continues to churn out more than 200 000 school-leavers yet only 30 000 jobs are created in industry and commerce each year.

Because of the sophistication of the unemployed school leavers, some people believe, this is creating more sophisticated criminals who commit crimes on a grand scale and not just petty criminals like pick pockets.

(30 VIEWS)

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe expects more foreign currency sellers to join the interbank market

The gazetting into law of the payment of quarterly taxes on a 50-50 basis in…

December 4, 2024

Zimbabwe 2025 citizens’ budget

Zimbabwe has today unveiled a ZiG276.4 billion budget for 2025 during which it expects the…

November 28, 2024

To go or not to go- Mnangagwa in a quandary

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly stated that he is not going to contest a…

November 25, 2024

ZiG loses steam, falls against US dollar for five consecutive days

The Zimbabwe Gold fell against the United States dollar for five consecutive days from Monday…

November 22, 2024

Indian think tank says Starlink is a wolf in sheep’s clothing

An Indian think tank has described Starlink, a satellite internet service provider which recently entered…

November 18, 2024

ZiG firms against US dollar for 10 days running but people still do not have confidence in the currency

Zimbabwe’s new currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), firmed against the United States dollars for 10…

November 16, 2024