Educated youth trapped in deepening job crisis
Mpho Mokwape | Wednesday May 13, 2026 06:00
The recent 2024 estimates place the country’s unemployment rate between 23.1% and 27.6%, whilst youth unemployment amongst people aged 15 to 35 is believed to exceed 34% to 43%.
Labour experts and worker representatives from different unions say the situation reflects long-standing structural problems within the economy and the labour market.
Despite thousands of people remaining unemployed, some jobs reportedly remain unfilled, raising concerns about whether the country’s education and training systems are preparing graduates with the skills employers need.
A statement from the National Amalgamated Local, Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union (Manual Workers Union or NALCGPWU) read, “There are people without jobs and jobs without people.”
The union argued that training institutions risk producing graduates who are not suited for the labour market because they fail to conduct proper follow-up studies on former students.
The statement cited research by Kelly (1999), which found that many firms preferred on-the-job training for artisans over employing graduates from vocational training schools.
The union called for the establishment of a professional coordinating task force to develop “tangible, strategic, and sustainable solutions” to reduce unemployment across the country.
It also criticised what it described as “piecemeal and unsustainable government schemes” that have failed to create lasting employment opportunities.
According to the union, Botswana lacks a clear long-term strategy for job creation beyond attracting foreign direct investment.
It argued that the country’s small population and weak purchasing power, worsened by poverty, have made it difficult to build a strong domestic economy capable of supporting large-scale employment.
Concerns were also raised about the increasing influence of foreign-owned companies in Botswana’s economy. The union claimed that many of the country’s biggest investment companies are owned by foreigners whose primary focus is profit rather than local social development.
“The major causes of unemployment are inherently limited supply of jobs due to the fact that there is limited direct investment from the locals,” the statement said.
The organisation also argued that Botswana’s shift toward a market-oriented economy, including the use of international tenders, has weakened opportunities for small local entrepreneurs.
It warned that multinational corporations and privatisation have introduced new challenges, including resistance to worker unionisation and reduced benefits for employees.
Between 2024 and 2025, Botswana experienced retrenchments in several sectors, including mining, parastatals, and parts of the private sector. The loss of jobs, the union said, has pushed many families back into poverty and worsened social inequality.
“The loss of jobs pushes these retrenched workers back to cyclic poverty and social injustice,” the statement added.
To address the crisis, the union proposed stronger investment in manufacturing industries to absorb growing numbers of graduates entering the labour market each year.
It also called for the commercialisation of agriculture and restrictions on food imports from South Africa in order to support local farmers and producers.
According to the union, agriculture has the potential to strengthen the economy through both production and supply chain opportunities if properly developed.
The organisation further recommended the development of a realistic five-year job creation strategy led by experts capable of designing sustainable economic solutions.
As unemployment continues to rise, pressure is growing on policymakers, businesses and educational institutions to work together to address the widening gap between education, industry demands and available employment opportunities in Botswana.