The importance of transport of goods and people is illustrated in the employment statistics published in the October 2023 Zimbabwean Quarterly Labour Force Survey.Some 3.4% of the formal sector is employed in transport and storage, and 4.6% in the informal sector.In the informal sector, the biggest employer by far is the separate wholesale and retail trade. Sale and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles account for 48% of non-agricultural jobs.This is also the biggest sector in the formal economy, accounting for 27% of jobs.However, 21% in transport and storage were classed as “time-related” underemployed.Challenges in the formal sector due to disinvestment and deindustrialisation are ref lected in the national statistics, where permanent employees make up 38% of the workforce, which is second to sole proprietors at 40%.As with much of the rest of Africa, Zimbabwe is facing a youth unemployment crisis.According to the survey, around 36% of those aged 15-24 are unemployed, compared to the national expanded unemployment rate of 20%.The unemployment rate for those in the 15-34-year-old bracket is 27%.The expanded national unemployment rate is 48% (2.9 million), and 57% (1.7m) for the 15-34 age bracket.Some 49% or nearly 2.8m youth aged 15-34 are not in education, employment or training.This is 24% of the working-age population (15 years and above) of 9.2m.The government’s “Vision 2030” plan emphasises education as a means of addressing the problem.It plans to establish vocational training centres in administrative districts, as well as adult education to equip people to become entrepreneurs.“Realisation of Zimbabwe’s demographic dividend from its youthful population will entail improved access by the youth to education, housing, health, and employment opportunities and other essential services,” it states.
