The Impact of Youth Unemployment on the Zambian Economy

Francis Mukosa ,Moses Katebe ,Kwesi Atta Sakyi ,Burton Mweemba ,Serah Mbewe ,Webster Sikazwe

doi:10.7176/jesd/11-6-09

Abstract

This research looks at the issue of youth unemployment and how this affects the Zambian economy. The paper focuses on examining how the productive age in Zambia has been disadvantaged by the introduction of some regulations and policies. The paper brings into perspective the shrinking employment opportunities for the youth and how this effects productivity in key economic sectors such as mining, agriculture and the private sector. The findings indicate that the increase in the pensionable age disadvantages the youth and further increases the unemployment rate for the youth and women. The findings have also brought out the challenges that are faced by the unemployed youth and how they have been forced to engage in crime and political violence in order for them to make a living. The youth in Zambia represent 60% of the total employable age yet instead of being in well-paying and productive jobs; they are involved in crime, prostitution, drug abuse and alcohol abuse. The research outcomes also indicate that the definitions of a youth in the Zambian youth policy and the definitions of a youth by the United Nations are different and this may pose a challenge in terms of statistics and planning purposes. The paper takes a secondary research approach by reviewing research findings that have been drawn from analysing the different opinions, facts and findings from researchers on the topic of youth unemployment and government policies and laws on youth employment. Indicators from the findings are that youth unemployment is a global problem, which affects even rich countries such as the UK that has a huge GDP than that of Zambia. The conclusion in the paper is that there is a direct connection between youth unemployment and economic growth and that governments must ensure that they put youth employment at the centre of national economic planning. Keywords: unemployment, youth, government, economy, policy, labour, productivity DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-6-09 Publication date: March 31 st 2020

Highlights

Unemployment levels in Africa and many parts of Europe are predominantly high and have been set on the top agenda for many governments that have realized the need to tap into the productive age for economic value
The literature interrogated in this research indicates that youth unemployment is increasing in Zambia and that the key sectors such as mining and agriculture are reducing their volumes of production and needing less and less youth labour because of using more capital-intensive methods of production
This means that if there are no deliberate efforts by government to create jobs and business opportunities for the youth, Zambia could be facing both an economic and social crises

Summary

Introduction

Unemployment levels in Africa and many parts of Europe are predominantly high and have been set on the top agenda for many governments that have realized the need to tap into the productive age for economic value. In Zambia, the youth unemployment rate stands at 60% of the total employable population (Ministry of Labour, 2017).

Results

Conclusion