Causes of urban unemployment among the youth: a case study of Jinja Municipality

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to identify and document the causes of urban unemployment among the youth of Jinja municipality. The study was guided by the following objectives; to explore the extent of unemployment among the youth of Jinja municipality, to document interventions that have been put in place to help curb the situation by the government and to recommend strategies that will help address the unemployment situation. A sample size of 62 respondents both males and females in Jinja municipality were selected for the study. The study employed cross sectional designs and methodologies that were both qualitative and quantitative. Questionnaires and documentary reviews were the major tools of data collection. The causes of unemployment among the youth in Jinja municipality included; youth have a negative attitude towards, employers employ relatives who are less qualified than others, the education system is too theoretical, the youth have limited access to financial capital to start up their own jobs among other causes. Unemployment among the youth in Jinja municipality has led to crime and violence among the youth, unemployment has led to reduced earnings among the youth hence dependence, unemployment has driven the youth into commercial sex work. The strategies that can help curb the unemployment situation include; government should create more industries, education system should be changed from theoretical to more practical