By Adonis Byemelwa
The Tanzanian government has increasingly been pushing graduates to seek self-employment, instead of relying on government jobs, as the country grapples with high unemployment rates. The expectation is clear: graduates are urged to create their opportunities, yet many remain skeptical.
Critics argue that the government’s role should be to industrialize and create jobs rather than place the burden on the educated youth to become entrepreneurs when many are still inclined towards seeking stable employment.
This disconnection between the government’s push for self-employment and the reality of job scarcity has raised concerns about how meaningful development can occur in a country where educated youth often find themselves in menial jobs.
The government's push for self-reliance has been strongly echoed by the Vice President, who recently urged graduates not to expect employment in the public sector, which employs only a small fraction of the workforce.
As of 2021, according to NBS, Tanzania's total workforce stood at 23.5 million people, with less than 2% working in government positions. The Vice President's statement highlights a growing shift in government policy, focusing on entrepreneurship and self-employment as key solutions to the country’s unemployment challenges.
The reality is that with such a small proportion of jobs in the public sector, the majority of employment opportunities lie within the private sector.
More than 80% of jobs are found in the private sector, where competition is fierce and opportunities often limited. This contrast between government rhetoric and the reality of job opportunities in the private sector has led to a growing debate on whether the government is truly addressing the employment crisis or merely shifting the responsibility onto the graduates.
In countries like the United States, self-employment and entrepreneurship are promoted as vital aspects of economic development, with many graduates taking the plunge into business ventures. However, political economists argue that the focus should not be solely on creating jobs through entrepreneurship, as the private sector alone cannot absorb the ever-growing number of graduates.
What is needed, they argue, is a concerted effort by governments to foster industrialization, provide infrastructure, and create an environment where private and public sectors work together to reduce the job gap.
At the graduation ceremony of the Tanzania Institute of Accounting (TIA) in Mwanza on November 29, 2024, Deputy Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Alexander Mnyeti, echoed this call for graduates to look for self-employment opportunities, particularly through fish farming in Lake Victoria.
He emphasized the government’s willingness to provide loans to young people through the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to enable them to engage in modern fish farming practices. “Don’t wait for government jobs; look for opportunities like fish farming using modern methods,” Mnyeti urged, stressing that the government is making it easier for young people to access capital for self-employment ventures.
Mnyeti’s message was clear: the government can no longer be expected to create all the jobs for graduates. Instead, they must use the skills they have acquired to become job creators themselves. “I have been informed that TIA has trained its graduates to either be employable or to become employers themselves. Focus on creating your jobs,” he said, highlighting the increasing availability of loans for young people in the country to venture into small businesses.
The Tanzanian government has committed more than 100 billion Tanzanian shillings to create opportunities for youth, particularly through projects like modern fish farming in Lake Victoria.
The initiative aims to provide graduates with the tools and resources to start their businesses, such as fish farming cages, which can be expanded by teaming up with friends or colleagues. The government also offers interest-free loans to facilitate these ventures, encouraging youth to think beyond conventional employment and explore entrepreneurial opportunities.
Despite the government’s emphasis on entrepreneurship, many graduates, like Francis Haule and Sophia Abeid, are still hopeful for the opportunity to work in more traditional settings. Haule expressed his intention to use the loans offered by the government to start a fish farming business in the future, while Abeid believes that the initiative to offer loans for self-employment is an important opportunity for graduates like herself. She stressed the importance of not waiting for government jobs but instead looking for ways to create personal income streams, particularly through fish farming.
While these initiatives may benefit some, there is growing criticism that the government’s focus on self-employment does not fully address the deeper issue of job creation. Critics argue that entrepreneurship is not a one-size-fits-all solution, especially when the market is oversaturated and opportunities for successful business ventures remain scarce. For many graduates, the lack of job opportunities in both the public and private sectors remains a pressing issue.
At the graduation event, TIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Professor William Pallangyo, highlighted the remarkable growth of the institution, with 782 graduates in 2024 compared to just 279 in 2013. This growth reflects the increased interest in technical and vocational education as a pathway to self-reliance. However, despite this increase in graduates, the question remains whether the economy can keep up with the rising demand for jobs.
The Tanzanian government has also invested in improving education infrastructure, such as the construction of new student hostels and classrooms at TIA’s Mwanza campus. These improvements are seen as part of a broader effort to enhance the quality of education, though the underlying issue of unemployment persists. “We want to create a conducive environment for our students to excel and be ready for the job market,” said Pallangyo, emphasizing the role of education in shaping the future of the workforce.
Nonetheless, the true test of these educational investments will be whether they lead to meaningful job creation and whether graduates can secure employment in line with their qualifications. As highlighted by critics, the problem is not just one of education but of the availability of suitable jobs for highly skilled individuals. The economic reality remains that many graduates still struggle to find work in their chosen fields, often resorting to menial jobs or leaving the country in search of better opportunities.
Local government officials, like Misungwi District Commissioner Johari Samizi, have urged the community to invest in services that will benefit the growing number of students in the area. By developing the surrounding infrastructure, such as building student hostels and offering food services, local businesses can support the students and help foster a more prosperous environment for education and employment.
The debate continues over whether the government’s focus on self-employment is enough to solve Tanzania’s unemployment crisis. While entrepreneurship can certainly play a significant role in the economy, experts argue that the government’s role in job creation should not be underestimated.
Tanzania's growing youth unemployment crisis calls for a balanced approach that supports both self-employment and traditional job opportunities. Dr. Bravius Kahyoza, an economist from the University of Dar es Salaam, argues that the key to tackling this issue lies in fostering entrepreneurship while also boosting formal job creation.
Countries like Kenya and Nigeria have successfully combined government support for small businesses with private-sector investment to address unemployment. Political analysts, such as Dr. Adebayo Adekola from the University of Ibadan, emphasize the importance of inclusive policies that encourage innovation while ensuring access to stable employment. By integrating self-employment with formal job opportunities, Tanzania can build a diverse workforce, driving economic growth and long-term prosperity.