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The latest Multi-Topic Household Survey (BMTHS) for the 2024/25 period paints a sobering picture of the labor market. While the total number of young people entering the workforce is growing, the economy is struggling to absorb them, leading to a significant uptick in unemployment across the board.
The Broad View: A Growing Gap
The general unemployment rate for persons aged 15 and above has seen a sharp climb over the last decade. In the 2015/16 BMTHS, the rate stood at 17.6%. Nearly nine years later, that figure has jumped to 21.0%.
This trend suggests that despite various economic initiatives, job creation is failing to keep pace with population growth and the influx of new job seekers into the market.
Youth Unemployment: A Critical Challenge
The most startling data lies within the Youth Labour Force (Ages 15-35). This demographic is often considered the "engine of the future," yet they face the steepest hurdles:
Overall Increase: Youth unemployment rose by 3.4%, moving from 25.1% in 2015/16 to 28.9% in 2024/25.
The Gender Divide: The burden is not shared equally. Young females are facing an unemployment rate of 30.7%, significantly higher than their male counterparts at 27.2%.
Expanding Workforce: The youth labor force itself grew by 8.3%, increasing from 427,089 individuals to 467,267.
The Insight: The sheer volume of the youth population is outstripping the capacity of traditional sectors like mining, agriculture, or civil service to provide sustainable employment.
Understanding the Context: Why the Rise?
While the infographic provides the hard numbers, several socio-economic factors likely contribute to this "jobless growth" scenario:
Skill Mismatch: There is often a disconnect between the degrees produced by higher education institutions and the practical technical skills required by the modern private sector.
Digital Transition: As industries move toward automation and digital services, those without high-level tech literacy are being left behind, as evidenced by the female-to-male unemployment gap which often correlates with access to STEM training.
Global Economic Headwinds: Inflationary pressures and fluctuating commodity prices can lead to "hiring freezes," where companies choose to maintain current staff rather than risk expansion.
Moving Forward
For these numbers to take a downward turn, the focus must shift toward Entrepreneurship Support and Vocational Training. Reducing the 3.4% increase in youth unemployment will require more than just job placement; it requires a structural shift in how the youth are prepared for a competitive, globalized economy.
Source: statisticsbotswana
