Youth Unemployment in Urban Zimbabwe in the 21st Century: Analysing the Drivers, Impacts and Cultural Implications

Abstract

Zimbabwe entered the 21st century experiencing an economic decline. This has had a great bearing on the country’s youth in terms of employment. Young people in urban areas have been especially badly affected. The cause of such a high unemployment level has been a contentious issue. Contending issues have centred around, on one hand, the external environment impinging negatively on the Zimbabwean economy and on the other hand a failed state and economic mismanagement. Rising unemployment has had various impacts on the young people’s economic, political and economic plight. This research analyses the various competing factors that have led to unprecedented levels of urban unemployment in Zimbabwe in the 21 st century. It also considers the effects of unemployment on Zimbabwean society as a whole and suggests ways of dealing with this problem. Methodologically, the research relies on secondary sources and relies on already existing and available interviews in the media.