Gov't should increase training centres for youth

Government should emphasis on the training given to youth while in school so that they can find meaningful jobs after completing.

The Country Representative of Uganda and South Sudan Konrad- Adenauer- Stiftung Mathias Kanyo has said there is need to have employment as a promotion of solidarity around the World and   building confidence for the youth.

Kayo made the remarks at the Youth Employment, Entrepreneurship and Education in Uganda conference at Esella hotel in Wakiso district.

Kanyo urged the youth to use the knowledge learnt from school to create jobs for themselves. He told the youth after school not to target current labor market only.

He appealed to government to create more adequate centres for youth to improve on their skills. Employers should give the youth internship training which confers with their professions.

The Coordinator of Employment Entrepreneurship and Education in Uganda Yusufu Kiranda said that unemployment and underemployment issues are top agenda of Uganda's political and economic discourse.

Kiranda said that according to the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) of 2012/13 the working age consists of 16.5 million of which 1.8million are retired in full- time education. A total 6 million are primarily in the agriculture sector and largely excluded in the labor market.  

He added that today Uganda registers over 12,000 modern wage jobs advertised annually and 700,000 entrants. He said that available evidence suggests that Uganda's unemployment and underemployment stem from the limited jobs.

He adds that those without degrees are not able to obtain jobs because they lack the skills needed for the jobs. He said that some of the youth have negative view on certain jobs and unwilling to take them if offered. 

 According to the Employment Entrepreneurship and Education in Uganda report of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung 2017: "firms that were established in 2001 that survived to 2011 employment increased by less than one worker over a decade from the 1.9 to 2.7 employees. The growth is driven by a small number of formal firms with the remaining 95% expanding only marginally since their establishment.

The Founder of Tandika Uganda shoe enterprise Rosette Twizekimana said you cannot rely on the job markets today. After University she wrote over 500 applications and would spend over sh. 50,000 on transport to follow up the applications.

 "Today I have market for my shoes and a beneficiary of sh. 30million buy Uganda build Uganda project which encouraging the market for Ugandan products. She said that she has trained over 100,000 women to make shoes but after training they go away they lack the funds to boost their business", said Twizekimana