Following the global pandemic outbreak, it has become clear that young people are bearing the massive economic consequences of COVID-19. Being among the most vulnerable groups, the youth have been more exposed to harsh circumstances and very high hurdles to jump beyond their capabilities, a fact in both developed and developing economies. Globally, by estimate, there are more than 1 billion young people between the ages of 15, 24 and 85 per cent of these live in developing countries; Uganda having the youngest labour.
According to International Labour Organisation-ILO, globally, youth employment fell by 8.7 % in 2020; almost triple the adults’ 3.7 % the same year. Based on ‘available country-level data’, the fall in employment has been much more pronounced in middle-income countries. However most low-income countries were not represented in the ILO analysis due to scanty or no data, though the impact is expected to be more. However, to understand the youth labour market, the adult labour market ought to be explored first. The crisis is still particularly severe for youth and young adults across three dimensions which directly impact ‘their blossom’ in this stage of life: first is the disruption to apprenticeship, internship or work-based learning in education, not training which makes placement difficult for lack of skills. Second, even for those with the skills, it is more difficult for young job seekers to penetrate the labour market and for those in to switch. Third, young people have lost jobs and income along with the deteriorating quality of employment, particularly, young women.
Advancement in technology is the topmost pillar and fuel to globalisation, which impacts greatly on the global World. Throughout the world, young people as new workers are facing challenges associated with these developments. Technology is reducing the quantity of labour as various professions and sectors: manufacturing, agricultural adaptation to the new age. In turn though, what ten employees would do is managed by one, automatically rendering the others unemployed. The youth labour market now has stratas with professional specialists climbing the ladder to the top; new opportunities are clustered at the top in the professional and technical sector, while unskilled youth linger in the informal economy where jobs have no security and are characterized by poor wages and working conditions.
In another survey by ILO and Master Card Foundation, among 28 countries including Uganda, eight in ten (83%) of young people with post-secondary education secured better employment i.e., with long term agreement, better pay and working conditions in middle income countries while 75% young workers with university qualifications in low-income countries were able to secure a paid job. Though percentages vary across economies, 75% being three-thirds is good enough. Of young secondary school graduates, only four out of ten secured safe employment.
Education is key in boosting labour of youth, a challenge for Uganda where only 51% of the gross 99% enrollment rate in primary education, complete just that level according to the National Education profile 2018 by World Bank. The numbers reduce further to secondary and later a handful graduate. While the country boosts of an increase in young people graduating, some are attaining the second or third degree and are already the few at the top of the technical sector; majority however those that are attaining their first degree will stay at the intermediary skill level in the youth labour market for a long time and some are unable to revamp after a certain age.
The intermediary zone is a growing labour sector. Youth in this zone you may say are neither employed nor unemployed, but engage in the informal economy with no employment rights and security. With most labour unions being long gone in Uganda, leaving workers in many sectors all by themselves with no joint force to advocate for their rights, majority of young people alternatively try to survive through subsistence self-employment, part time and casual jobs, hence the vicious cycle of poverty due to high demands of sustainability. Youth labour is below the highly qualified strata and yet at the same time over qualified for the low skilled sector, but cannot be absorbed in the middle skilled economy or ‘intermediary zone’ due to reduction in labour-in-person demands, they resort to jobs for which they are over qualified. Consequently, what they do and earn is not commiserate with their skills.
The flight to Arab countries even when the situation may not be different, is example enough of youth labour discontent. The brain drain effects of labour migration will bite hard after the current labour in specialised technical sector is worn out without replacement, especially being that employment opportunities attained out of Uganda are always of low skills hence do not nurture or grow expertise but rather demote and stagnant professional progress from one level to another.
While the political song now may be based on growing the industrial sector of the economy, there is need to regulate how business is done considering the capitalistic nature of Uganda’s economy. As Christian leaders and the lay faithful, we can encourage young people to embrace and enjoy work by being kind to them, mentoring, nurturing them and influencing labour friendly policies, from our homes to our work places and above all, encouraging the youth to maintain their faith.
By Joseline Byakatonda
