QUALIFIED BUT UNEMPLOYED

The unemployment rate in Botswana increased to 18.20 percent in 2019 from 17.90

percent in 2018. It is expected to increase by 18 percent in this quarter according to

budget speech (2020) Ministry of Finance and development planning.

Statistics Botswana recently released its first ever quarterly labour force survey

results for the three months of July to September 2019 which show an

unemployment rate of 20.7 percent for that quarter. According to revised Botswana

national youth policy (2010) Gaborone, Botswana. The international conference of

labour statistics defines a person as unemployed if he/she meets all the following

three conditions is without work, cannot find work or is qualified but no available job

opportunities. The international labour organisation found that there were

approximately 75.1 million people (young) struggling to find work around the world

in 2010 by the end of that year.

According to Study of poverty & Poverty Alleviation in Botswana (1997), BIDPA

unemployment more especially youth unemployment leads to increased incidence of

poverty, depression and stress is linked to lower life expectancy and poor health.

There is evidence to suggest that unemployment early in life can significantly reduce

an individual’s future economic opportunities. Further these studies have consistently

observed that a prolonged spell of unemployment early in a young person’s working

life can have a long term devastating effects on lifetime prospects, potential lower

earnings through life reduced health status and threat of social exclusion.

According to Botswana National youth policy (2010) Gaborone in the light of the

causes and effects of youth unemployment the government of Botswana has over
the years made concerted efforts to respond to the challenges of youth

unemployment.

Youth policy 1996 was the first policy of 1996 the first policy initiative of the 1990s

which sought to develop and strengthen a network of institutions for youth

development in Botswana. It offered an overarching framework for stakeholders to

start thinking more critically about how to tackle youth unemployment. However, the

results from such programmes are yet to be fully realised.

According to Botswana Labour Force Survey (2006) Youth development fund which

was created in 2009 aimed at promoting active participation of youth in the socio

economic development of the country. It seeks to promote competitive sustainable

and growth orientated citizen owned youth enterprises & create sustainable

employment. The fund disburses about P50’000 to a maximum of P100’000 per

project. However, given the lack of monitoring and evaluation the impact of youth

projects funded under the youth development fund is yet to be determined. Data on

the number of jobs created is scanty and not readily available, therefore it is difficult

to know its success and failures.

The youth empowerment Scheme main aim was to promote behavioural change,

youth empowerment, poverty eradication and skills development According to

Botswana Revised National Youth Policy (2010).