16 956 graduates remain unemployed

Unemployment rate in Botswana has declined slightly in the past five years with the latest records standing at 17.7 percent for the years 2015/16. According to the Multi-Topic Household Survey results released by Statistics Botswana yesterday, overall unemployment rates were estimated at 17.7 percent for the population aged 15 years and above and 17.6 percent for population aged 18 years and above.

Overall unemployment rate was highest in 2008 at 26.2 percent and it declined drastically to 17 percent from 2009 to 2010. The figures also show that from 2010 to 2011 the rate increased to 20 percent and has remained steady until 2013. Presenting the results, Statistician General Anna Majelantle said the survey was conducted over a year because it included the agriculture sector, which is seasonal. “Everyone who ploughs has the means of income because he can sell the field products so we classified them as employed population,” said Majelantle.

Unemployed population aged 15 years and above was estimated at 149 300 persons. This comprised 68, 535 males and 80, 765 females. The youth aged 15 to 35 years unemployment rate was estimated at 25.2 percent with the female youths being the highest at 26.9 percent compared to 23.6 percent for male youths. The survey findings also indicate that, overall employment includes individuals who during a specified short reference period did some work either for payment in cash or in kind.

These included those who were in self-employment for profit or family gain as well as persons temporarily absent from these activities. Majelantle said the set of indicators derived from the BMTS are to provide baseline information that will be tracked on annual basis to inform the poverty eradication strategy and programmes. “Poverty eradication and employment creation are the priority areas for the government so this information will help the policy makers to make well informed decisions,” she said.

The majority of the unemployed population was highest for people with junior certificate at 39.4 percent followed by those with senior secondary school at 22.8 percent and primary education with 14.8 percent. Maajelantle said that in all instances, the females had the highest numbers compared to males. Furthermore, the unemployed university and college graduates was estimated at 11.4 percent representing 16 956 people in the overall population.