• Category of the unemployed population should be the focus for future employment intervention measures.
• The employment breakthrough in the Health and Education sector should not be taken as the end or final result in itself.
• This is not yet the right time to celebrate and become complacent – more work still remains to be done.

Network of Zambians in Formal Employment (NetZIE) has urged government to create a conducive environment that will spur business enterprise’s growth and investment in the economy by leveraging on Domestic Cooperative investment (DCI).

Network Chairman and national Coordinator Danny Simumba explained to Money FM News that this is in order for the country to generate wealth which will contribute to generation of the much needed employment opportunities for the youth and women in all economic sectors if the impact has to be felt.

Mr. Simumba added that category of unemployed population should be the focus for future employment intervention measures which stood at about 61% for Grades 8-12, followed by Grades 1-7 at about 25% as at 2020; whilst individuals with no education or nursery accounted for just less than one percent according to ZamStats Labour Force Survey, of 2020.

He emphasized that government should be concerned about the high number and percentage share of unemployed population rather than be overjoyed by massive numbers of employment in the health and education sectors.

“They should be concerned or worried about the high number and percentage share of the unemployed population by highest education attainment which was at about 61% for Grades 8-12, followed by Grades 1-7 at about 25% as at 2020; whilst individuals with no education/nursery accounted for just less than one percent.” He said, citing Zambia Statistics Agency Labour Force Survey (ZAMSTAT LFS¬) of 2020.

Mr. Simumba further indicated that the employment breakthrough in the Health and Education sector should not be taken as the end or final result in itself, “It is merely an initial achievement which must just act as a catalyst for the New Dawn Government to generate more decent and inclusive formal employment opportunities in all sectors of the economy.”

He ex-plained more so that about 74% of Zambians were still in informal employment with the unemployed population at about 478,000 as at the year 2020 according ZAMSTAT LFS¬.

The Network of Zambians in Formal Employment Chairman pointed out that this must be a wake-up call to the Government and all concerned parties that there is a mammoth task ahead of fighting high unemployment levels.

According to him, “This will demand extra effort and thinking to grow the economy which enhance employment opportunities for all Zambians.”

Mr. Simumba emphasized that “this is not yet the right time to celebrate and become complacent – more work still remains to be done.”