Tunisia: Employment Situation in Figures
22 May 2012
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TUNIS (Xinhua) - Despite a slight drop in the unemployment rate during the first quarter of this year in Tunisia (18.1% compared to 18.9% in the last quarter of 2011), employment remains a major concern for the government, unions, and Tunisian citizens.
According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), Tunisia has 221,000 unemployed graduates, representing about 2.34% of the total unemployed (709,000).
During 2011, the number of unemployed reached 738,000, including 242,000 graduates, 75,000 with specialized diplomas, and the rest without specialization. According to the daily newspaper "Achourouk" (Sunrise), "a large part of these unemployed refused to work, relying on social benefits provided by the state."
To address this issue, the current Tunisian government has prioritized employment in its 2012 action plan through a series of urgent measures, including the creation of 75,000 jobs and expanding employment programs to reach approximately 100,000 people.
According to the Tunisian government's employment forecasts for 2012, the affected sectors will be agriculture and fishing (5,700 positions), manufacturing (10,600 positions), construction (11,400 positions), mining and energy (700 positions), commerce (5,200 positions), tourism (7,000 positions), transport (7,400 positions), various services (14,000 positions), and administration (13,000 positions).
Meanwhile, Tunisia saw more than 500,000 foreign workers enter the country between 2011 and 2012, mainly from Libya. However, this number has decreased to only 100,000, who "preferred to remain in Tunisia, hoping for opportunities to move to Europe," according to a report published by the daily newspaper "Achourouk."
These foreign workers contributed to the complexity of the employment situation in Tunisia as many found work in sectors such as agriculture, fishing, call centers, tourism, and construction.
This observation is supported by the fact that many Tunisians refuse to work in several sectors, particularly agriculture, which requires 500,000 seasonal workers and 100,000 regular workers annually. However, "this sector currently employs only 16% of the active workforce in Tunisia," according to the same source.
On the union side, the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) criticized the employment promises made by some Tunisian political parties and considered the creation of only 25,000 public sector jobs insufficient.
The "mystery" surrounding the government's employment program created "disappointment" among the unemployed in Tunisia, said Mr. Sami Tahri, a member of the UGTT executive office, to the daily newspaper "Achourouk."
The UGTT's proposals include enshrining the right to work in the new Tunisian Constitution and engaging leaders in a dialogue and listening approach with job seekers and stakeholders to find "urgent solutions."
To solve the employment problem, the Tunisian government seems aware of the importance of relying on neighboring countries, mainly Libya, which has expressed its ability to absorb a significant number of Tunisian workers in several fields.
This willingness was recently demonstrated by Libyan Prime Minister Abderrahim El-Kib, during his visit to Tunisia with a high-level delegation, calling on Tunisian workers and businessmen to go to Libya.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the two countries on the possibility of creating a free trade zone in Ben Guerdane (Tunisian-Libyan border) covering an area of 150 hectares, with a budget of around 300 million dinars (one dinar is equivalent to $0.63).
Meanwhile, Tunisian Employment Minister Abdelwahab Maatar stated during a press conference that his Libyan counterpart, Mustapha Al-Rahbani, had offered 3,000 jobs for Tunisians in several private sectors, noting that Libya's private sector needs at least 5,000 managers and technicians.
Afriquinfos.com
Published May 21, 2012.
Online May 22, 2012.
According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), Tunisia has 221,000 unemployed graduates, representing about 2.34% of the total unemployed (709,000).
During 2011, the number of unemployed reached 738,000, including 242,000 graduates, 75,000 with specialized diplomas, and the rest without specialization. According to the daily newspaper "Achourouk" (Sunrise), "a large part of these unemployed refused to work, relying on social benefits provided by the state."
To address this issue, the current Tunisian government has prioritized employment in its 2012 action plan through a series of urgent measures, including the creation of 75,000 jobs and expanding employment programs to reach approximately 100,000 people.
According to the Tunisian government's employment forecasts for 2012, the affected sectors will be agriculture and fishing (5,700 positions), manufacturing (10,600 positions), construction (11,400 positions), mining and energy (700 positions), commerce (5,200 positions), tourism (7,000 positions), transport (7,400 positions), various services (14,000 positions), and administration (13,000 positions).
Meanwhile, Tunisia saw more than 500,000 foreign workers enter the country between 2011 and 2012, mainly from Libya. However, this number has decreased to only 100,000, who "preferred to remain in Tunisia, hoping for opportunities to move to Europe," according to a report published by the daily newspaper "Achourouk."
These foreign workers contributed to the complexity of the employment situation in Tunisia as many found work in sectors such as agriculture, fishing, call centers, tourism, and construction.
This observation is supported by the fact that many Tunisians refuse to work in several sectors, particularly agriculture, which requires 500,000 seasonal workers and 100,000 regular workers annually. However, "this sector currently employs only 16% of the active workforce in Tunisia," according to the same source.
On the union side, the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) criticized the employment promises made by some Tunisian political parties and considered the creation of only 25,000 public sector jobs insufficient.
The "mystery" surrounding the government's employment program created "disappointment" among the unemployed in Tunisia, said Mr. Sami Tahri, a member of the UGTT executive office, to the daily newspaper "Achourouk."
The UGTT's proposals include enshrining the right to work in the new Tunisian Constitution and engaging leaders in a dialogue and listening approach with job seekers and stakeholders to find "urgent solutions."
To solve the employment problem, the Tunisian government seems aware of the importance of relying on neighboring countries, mainly Libya, which has expressed its ability to absorb a significant number of Tunisian workers in several fields.
This willingness was recently demonstrated by Libyan Prime Minister Abderrahim El-Kib, during his visit to Tunisia with a high-level delegation, calling on Tunisian workers and businessmen to go to Libya.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the two countries on the possibility of creating a free trade zone in Ben Guerdane (Tunisian-Libyan border) covering an area of 150 hectares, with a budget of around 300 million dinars (one dinar is equivalent to $0.63).
Meanwhile, Tunisian Employment Minister Abdelwahab Maatar stated during a press conference that his Libyan counterpart, Mustapha Al-Rahbani, had offered 3,000 jobs for Tunisians in several private sectors, noting that Libya's private sector needs at least 5,000 managers and technicians.
Afriquinfos.com
Published May 21, 2012.
Online May 22, 2012.
