Unemployment in Yemen
Calling upon the government to pay particular attention to the social and political dangers of unemployment was the aim of a workshop held last week in Aden. It was conducted by the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) Developing Center for Childhood and Youth (DCCY) in cooperation with the Canadian Center for Development of Aden, titled ‘Unemployment among youths, reality and solutions.’
Participants asked the NGO to do surveys in order to give real statistics about unemployment in all governorates of Yemen. They asked only non-government sources because they will give real numbers and facts about unemployment which will not be done by government organization.
Unemployment in Yemen has reached 34 percent, according to a report in 2006 issued by the Ministry of Planning and International Corporation. The report stated that less than half of working age young people are unemployed. Unemployment is on the raise according to the same report. There were around 188,000 graduates of 2006 while the government can only employ 16,000. The reports said that the number of graduates will increase during the coming years – and unemployment along with it.
The report warned of the danger of unemployment, and that is the same thing that people are afraid of. “Unemployment can lead youths to be criminals, thieves and things which we cannot imagine,” said Islam Mohammed. “If the government does not do something serious that would really effect on the safety of the country.”Recent studies referred that unemployment in Yemen increased sharply due to the government failure to improve the economic policies and enhance living standards in Yemen. According to the 2006 annual economic report, the unemployment average in Yemen has rocketed up since 2003 – 05 to 34 percent, which is regarded as the largest figure so far.
Unemployment in Yemen is a real hindrance to development as it has economical and social effects. Average daily income has been affected due to the recent price hikes and the increase of unemployment. Studies conducted by both local and international institutions show that poverty is the main cause of violence and crime.
Young people spend their time hanging around in the streets, vulnerable to violence and crime as a result of unemployment
Poverty is another reason behind unemployment. Despite its location in the oil-rich Middle East, Yemen is still one of the poorest countries in the world, even with ongoing efforts to reduce poverty. With a population of 20 million people, 42 percent are living under the poverty line on under US $2 per day, according a report of 2005 by the government
In addition, 13.2 percent of the total population is living near to the poverty line. The average annual individual income is US $450 and unemployment was running at 37 percent in 2003, according to World Bank statistics.
International organizations consider Yemen one of the 30 lowest developed nations in the world. It was ranked 133 out of 162 countries, according to the UN Human Development Report for 2000.
Experts say this figure is unlikely to change as the country faces very slow economic growth and is not able to provide enough jobs for the ever increasing population.
“I think poverty is another reason because many people cannot be put in schools due to education fees which many people cannot afford,” added Mohammed. So many people have more than 8 children in one family which cannot help them to educate and train them to be able to face the difficulties of life. “Nowadays, you cannot be employed if you do not have experiences and certificates. Education in our country is very bad,” added Mohammed.
Youths should be given more attention in order to solve their problems. The government and non- organizations should work together. “Youths who are unemployed should be given more chances to have jobs. Private sectors and civil society organizations should be also encouraged to take part in development among youths,” said Mohammed Abudo, Director of DCCY, hoping that the workshop will do some changes in this serious problem.
There are many reasons behind unemployment. Laziness is a serious reason; many people do not want work or even search for jobs, most of them depend on their families, said Saba Sultan, a university student. “Some youths do not want to work any job; they say that “I study business management, and you want me to work as a secretary, are you joking?” we are not supposed to be ashamed of our work if we do not work in the field that we have studied.”
Sultan said that nepotism is another reason because there are youths, who are qualified, but they do not get their chances because they simply do not know an official person or not related to a famous family that can help him or her in getting job in any place they want. Every one should be given their own chances to prove themselves just as those who have nepotism do.
