Challenges of Youth Unemployment in South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia: A Case Study in Debre Tabaor, Woreta and Nefas Mewcha Towns

Abstract

Youth unemployment is a pressing issue that represent both widespread personal misfortune for individuals and a loss of opportunities for critical national and global economic development. Ethiopia is also one of the developing nations with highest urban unemployment rates worldwide. The overall objective of this paper is to assess challenges of youth unemployment in South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. To these ends, the study has employed a mixed research approach. Semi-structured interview and questionnaires were used as a data collection tools. A total of 384 individuals were selected by using simple random sampling method as the participants of the survey. The interviewees were selected based on purposive sampling method. Based on this, the following conclusions are drawn. First, low absorbing capacity of the national economy, underdevelopment of the private sector, and absence of financial and technical support from the government bodies to the unemployed youths to start private business are the major challenges to create job opportunities for the youth. Secondly, unemployment exposes the youth for drug/substance addiction, to be socially dependent, and conflict with their family. Thirdly, the study concludes that youth unemployment is one of the sources of socio-economic and political problems, such as theft, youth delinquency, street life and prostitution, and political insecurity or disorder. Finally, the study recommends that government policy direction should be designed in relation to focus on the youth group and with full commitment to address isuues related with youth unemployment. Both local and central governent bodies should create conducive conditions that attractss the private sector to reduce the problem. Education or training sectors must design their programe according to the needs of the labour market. Keywords: Youth, Unemployment, Challenges, Effects of Unemployment DOI: 10.7176/JCSD/63-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2021