Jobless for a Year: 700,000 Ugandans Trapped in Long-Term Unemployment

A new report has revealed that more than 700,000 Ugandans have remained unemployed for over a year, painting a bleak picture of the country’s job market and economic recovery efforts.The findings, released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), highlight the growing struggle for meaningful employment, particularly among the youth and recent graduates.

The report attributes the long-term unemployment crisis to several factors, including slow economic growth, limited industrialization, and the mismatch between education and market needs.

While the country has recorded progress in some sectors, job creation has not kept pace with the rapidly growing labor force.

Youth unemployment remains especially dire, with many young Ugandans stuck in a cycle of underemployment, casual labor, or complete joblessness.

According to UBOS, over 60% of those affected by year-long unemployment are under the age of 35.

“I graduated three years ago with a degree in business administration, but I’ve only managed to get short-term contracts,” said Sharon Nansubuga, one of the many struggling job seekers in Kampala. “It’s demoralizing.”

Experts warn that the persistence of long-term unemployment poses a threat to national stability, economic productivity, and mental health among the youth.

Civil society organizations have urged the government to prioritize vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and industrial incentives to stimulate job growth.

In response, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development acknowledged the problem and said it is working on strategies to expand the national apprenticeship program and attract private sector investment in labor-intensive industries.

As the country continues to battle inflation and post-pandemic recovery challenges, the latest figures serve as a wake-up call to policymakers to act with urgency to avert a deepening unemployment crisis