Determinants of youth unemployment in Uganda; a case study of Kawempe division-Kampala Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine selected determinants of Youths unemployment in Kawempe Division Kampala Uganda as a case study. The study was guided by the following objectives; that included; to examine the impact of the education level on youths unemployment, to examine the impact of the level of wage on youths unemployment and finally to assess the relationship between the level of capital and youth unemployment. The study mainly employed questionnaires comprised of both open and close ended questions, the analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0 whereby the findings were presented using tables, charts and figures using frequencies and percentages when explaining. The questionnaires were administered to 50 respondents on an individual basis particularly from youth in the area of study. The findings showed that there is need of vocationalizing of education section as vocational graduates have better employment opportunities than those from academic tertiary schools as getting a job is a struggle. The study also showed that there was a high positive correlation (0.724) between the dependence burden among youths and youth unemployment meaning high dependence burden leads to high youth unemployment. There was also a significant relationship between capital level and youth unemployment evidenced by a high but negative correlation (-0.609) meaning an increase in capital can reduce unemployment levels among youths. The study recommends the government and policy makers should review job market laws and regulation in order to promote smooth transition of youth from education to job market, there is need of creating specific interventions especially in the creation of more formal jobs and strengthening job market regulation relating to youth people, there is need of introducing a minimum wage policy that attracts more employees into the labour market although it doesn‟t favour employers among others.