Experts challenge employers’ demand for experience from graduates

Experts are urging a shift from traditional experience requirements to practical, market-driven skills, saying equipping young people with the right abilities is key to unlocking jobs and economic opportunities. They made the call on Thursday, December 11, during the Jobs for Youth Forum, hosted by the Ministry of Public Service and Labour in partnership with the World Bank under the theme “Jobs for Youth: Collaborating for Change.” ALSO READ: Rwanda to reduce unemployment rate to 12% in five years The latest labour force survey results show that youth unemployment in the third quarter of 2025 stood at 15.5 percent, compared to 11.7 percent for adults. The share of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) reached 25.6 percent, with rates significantly higher among young women. Christine Nkulikiyinka, Minister of Public Service and Labour, said Rwanda’s young people have energy, creativity, and ambition but face a competitive and fast-changing labour market. “Many encounter skills mismatches, limited work experience, informality, and barriers to accessing opportunities,” she said. “The good news is that solutions do exist. We have clear evidence on what works,” Nkulikiyinka added. “This includes technical and vocational training, digital skills, apprenticeships, and ensuring graduates leave with both technical and soft skills.” ALSO READ: Education ministry to train 70,000 youth with career skills The minister also mentioned the importance of structured pathways to help youth transition from school to work, including internships, industrial attachments, on-the-job training, and partnerships with the private sector. “When we reduce barriers, provide guidance, and improve access to finance, young people create jobs for themselves and for others. Innovation hubs, incubation programs, and simplified business processes must remain a priority,” Nkulikiyinka said. “Young people are full of talent and potential. With the right support, they will not only participate in the country's development, they will drive it, lead it, and redefine it for generations to come.” Qimiao Fan, World Bank Division Director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, and Uganda, said many young people, even though skilled, struggle with underemployment or informal work, limiting their productivity and access to stable, higher-quality livelihoods. “Rwanda can tap into growing opportunities in sectors including agriculture, agribusiness, construction, care services, hospitality, and tourism, areas aligned with the country’s evolving economic landscape.” Supporting youth requires coordinated action that connects evidence, programs, and policies into a coherent employment ecosystem, Fan said. ALSO READ: Top 10 sectors that contributed to 2024 job creation in Rwanda Malik Shaffy Lizinde, founder of multimedia hub 63 Inc, stressed that young people have valuable skills that are often overlooked. “Too often, youth move from one program to another, gaining skills repeatedly without real progress. That’s not what they need,” he emphasised. “If we put our efforts together, understand exactly what is happening, and direct young people into proper pathways, we create different categories and maximise impact.” The Minister of State for Youth, Sandrine Umutoni, called for stronger engagement with the private sector to understand their expectations. She questioned the focus on requiring fresh graduates to have years of experience rather than specific skills. “Rather than focusing on the number of years, let employers tell us what they want a graduate to be able to do, and then ensure the graduate is guided on the job to learn while working,” Umutoni said. “We should look at exactly what the person entering the job will do, and see if the skills can be taught in a few months so they can start working, because on the job, people continue to learn and improve how they work.”

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Experts challenge employers’ demand for experience from graduates