Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has revealed that 41% of the youth across the country were Not in Employment Education or Training (NEET).
According to the National Labour Force Survey (NLFS) 2021 Thematic Reports released on June 1, 2023, youth constitute a large proportion of the population (22% of the total population).
The labour under-utilization among the youth is at 48%, according to Elizabeth Nyirantwari, UBOS Statistician, Labour.
She cited a high unemployment rate of 17% among the youth, above the national average of 12%.
“About 7% were in unemployment for more than 4 years, 24% of youth transited to employment, 14% of the youth were over-educated while 38% are under-educated for jobs,” she revealed.
According to Nyirantwari, a high proportion of youth (41%) Not in Employment, Education or Training (Females=52% and Males=28%), potentially points to a high dependence burden on the working population.
According to the statistics, the Bukedi sub-region leads the country with the highest number of youth Not in Employment, Education or Training at a staggering 61.4%.
The region also tops the country with the highest youth unemployment rate at 41.1% with most of the youth not interested in getting work.
Bukedi includes Tororo, Busia, Budaka, Kibuku, Butaleja and Pallisa districts.
“We are dismayed seeing our most productive youth labour force go to work out of Uganda; we are turned down by the few available work opportunities and we can’t stop them from going to earn,” Aggrey Kibenge, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
He added: “It is unfortunate that the proportion of informal labour has increased; we should be graduating from the formal sector. We have a one Trillion grant for women, but those in informal stand to miss out.”
Median monthly salary of Shs168,000
According to the UBOS report, employees in informal employment earn a median monthly income (UGX 168,000), less compared to formal employees (UGX 600,000).
“76% of persons in informal employment including agriculture were satisfied with their jobs,” said Nyirantwari.
She said only 11% have Functional Bank/SACCO/MFI accounts.
