To curb unemployment, youth must be creative

Any government's headache today is probably its youth. How can this young and energetic yet restless population get jobs and embark on nation building?

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Editor,

Any government’s headache today is probably its youth. How can this young and energetic yet restless population get jobs and embark on nation building?

Indeed, the youth unemployment issue is a thorny one that has driven most governments to initiate specific ministries dealing with youth’s challenges.

With the high rate of graduates tertiary institutions are churning out every year, it does not require much research to conclude that not all educated youths can easily get white collar jobs.

This is the glaring truth that some youth have refused to accept as they hop from one office to another in the hope of securing jobs yet their brains are laden with knowledge that could be helpful in creation of employment to themselves and other youths in various informal industries.

Youth should embrace dynamism and view their academic qualifications as foundation for nation-building through any available avenue.

To alleviate unemployment, youth can use the acquired knowledge in university to hone their natural skills like drawing, painting or arts such as theatre and music to earn a living.

In addition, the government is fully supporting brilliant business ideas from youth who can create employment for themselves and others, an initiative that youth should grab as a blessing to spur their personal growth.

Today, the government’s initiatives geared at effecting further reforms in the business environment are laudable and encouraging. The youth can capitalise the existing goodwill to uplift themselves economically and businesswise rather than focusing on few formal employment slots.

Oduor, Burera District