According to the World Bank, Uganda has one of the youngest and most rapidly growing populations in the world. Although the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes productive employment and decent work for youth, it remains unclear of what works to support the youth in the labor market.
A research study, led by Dr. John Mutenyo, a Senior Lecturer of Economics in the Department of Economic Theory and Analysis, CoBAMS, seeks to find the most effective interventions for boosting productive employment for the heterogeneous groups particularly, the rural/urban, male and female. The research also seeks to discover factors underlying youth’s access to employment opportunities.
This research study, entitled: “Youth unemployment, education mismatch and potential growth sectors” was launched at 9:00am on Friday 4th March 2022 at function took place at the School of Business Conference Room.
Prof. Eria Hisali, the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences thanked Dr. Mutenyo and his team of researchers for the important research they are undertaking. “The research will provide evidence-based information to policy makers and implementers where jobs can be created” he said.
Prof. Hisali noted that the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) collects and provides employment information but there are gaps in the information provided. He said that UBOS used to survey newspaper jobs advertised, provide analysis about them but the survey has been stopped. According to UBOS Uganda’s unemployment rate stands at 9% and the underemployment rate is recorded at 37%.
“A job diagnostic centre will tell us where the jobs are. They will release employment numbers frequently and juxtapose it to other trends in the economy. This could answer the question of the job mismatch,” Prof. Hisali noted. He called for an enhancement in productivity in the labour market and the entire economy. “Productivity in the labour market is low.
Dr. John Mutenyo, in his presentation at the launch of the research referred to the problem of youth unemployment as a “ticking time bomb”. He noted that in some countries, youth unemployment has led to insecurity. “Youth unemployment is something that government must consider. The youth need to have a sensible life and not just survive. About 53% of Uganda’s population is 15 years and below higher than the Sub-Saharan average of 43.2%. 64% of the unemployed in Uganda are aged 24 and below.
In his remarks, Martin Wandera the Director of Labour, Employment and Occupational Safety and Health at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, said that unemployment is one of the biggest problems in Uganda. “At every home the question is how do I find a job, how do I keep my job?” Wandera said. He said evidence shows that there is economic growth without creating jobs. He noted that some economists believed that when you have economic growth you would have jobs. That, sadly has not happened.
He explained that the labour market has issues of welfare, minimum wage which are different from products and so solving unemployment problems requires attention to human rights and welfare.
He noted that investment policies affect employment and having a liberal market that allows free entry of investors can impact the local investors. “We are interested in school to work transition, where are the graduates, are they satisfied, tracer studies are needed on where graduates are going. There is thinking that those who study sciences get satisfactory jobs and we need evidence,” Wandera hinted.
The study will involve representatives of all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the findings of the study guide policy formulation. The research team is expected to conclude and present its findings by June 2022.