The high unemployment problem among educated youths in Zimbabwe: Lessons that can be drawn from other countries

Abstract

Research Question / Issue: The review focuses on discussing the methods, models and strategies used by other countries to resolve the problem of unemployment among educated youths for the benefit of Zimbabwe which has been grappling with the problem of unemployment since attaining independence in 1980. The review wishes to answer the question: What are the strategies, methods or models that were applied by other countries to resolve the problem of unemployment in general and of educated youths in particular? Research Findings/ Insights: The review established that since the problem of unemployment of youths is a global phenomenon, Zimbabwe has a lot to learn from other countries. It was proposed that the problem of educated youth unemployment should be treated with urgency to the extent of it being elevated to the Office of the President and Cabinet or other such measures which help to avoid bureaucracy in policy formulation and implementation because the problem was now affecting millions in Zimbabwe. It was noted by the review that exporting of skilled educated youths to other countries with shortages was an option worth pursuing up until such a time that the Zimbabwean economy was able to absorb them. Such a strategy would work best if centrally managed so that the country benefits from the rebates or taxes from such labour exports in order to fund more local youths self-employment projects. The review advised that natural resources such as land should be fully utilised so as to supply raw materials to resuscitate the manufacturing industries. Export of finished products as opposed to export of cheap raw materials should be made policy. Unproductive farmers who have neither passion nor skills should be urbanised to work in manufacturing industries to unlock the valuable resource of land which they were holding onto. This would make those with passion to get bigger tracts of land and to be bankable so that they mechanise to achieve high production. Zimbabwe should come up with investor friendly policies which are aimed at luring foreign and local investors in order to raise industry capacity utilisation which was currently very low. This could involve making difficult decisions and revising certain laws for the benefit of the unemployed educated youths in order to create jobs. The National Youth Service curriculum should be strengthened so those who graduate from it have enough skills to launch self-employment ventures after graduation. Theoretical / Academic Implications: When the economy is functioning well, the rate of unemployment moves in the opposite direction as the rate of urbanization. That is to say, an increase in the rate of urbanization decreases unemployment. Practitioner / Policy Implications: High educated youth unemployment should be treated as a state of emergency in any country because its effects have far reaching repercussions to the affected youths, their families, the nation and the global village at large.