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Graduate conundrum: What rise of unemployed youth unions means for Tanzania?
Youth attend a conference. The rising number of unemployed graduates forming associations in Tanzania has been described as a ticking time bomb. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- While job opportunities continue to shrink, student enrolment has remained the same, with many being admitted into programmes that have a surplus of job seekers
Dar es Salaam. The rising number of unemployed graduates forming associations in Tanzania has been described as a ticking time bomb, with experts warning the situation must be addressed urgently without resorting to excessive government force.
While employment opportunities have continued to shrink, student enrolment has remained the same, with many being admitted into programmes that already have a surplus of job seekers.
The Higher Education Loans Board has also continued to allocate funds towards these programmes, further escalating the problem.
Experts warn that if the trend continues, the situation could worsen. They advise that systems should be adjusted to match current realities and urge higher education institutions to consider the job market situation when admitting students.
Like in other countries, Tanzania is grappling with thousands of educated youths who graduate from higher education institutions each year, expecting employment.
Recently, a group called the Non-Employed Teachers Organisation (NETO) voiced dissatisfaction with the recent recruitment process for teachers.
Shortly after, another announcement surfaced on social media calling for a press conference by the Unemployed Youth Association of Tanzania (UYAM). These developments have sparked debates among education stakeholders and the public, prompting calls for a re-evaluation of student admissions into universities as well as education loan priorities.
Experts argue that certain fields, such as teaching, continue to produce large numbers of graduates despite declining employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors.
Career guidance specialist Mussa Ombeni questions the continued mass production of teachers when it is evident that employment prospects are dwindling.
“Why do we continue to do business as usual when it is clear we need to limit the number of graduates in fields like teaching?” he asks.
“It’s time for the country to change the approach; otherwise, these groups will grow and explode.” He emphasised in an interview with The Citizen, recently, the urgent need for proper career guidance, noting that many parents still push their children into teaching, believing it guarantees employment as it used to.
According to the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU), education has consistently produced the highest number of graduate teachers every year.
In 2023 alone, the sector recorded 15,103 graduates, following figures of 15,335 in 2022, 14,050 in 2021, 14,644 in 2020, and 18,805 in 2019.Business and social sciences follow as the second and third highest contributors to graduates, yet they are also among the fields hardest hit by unemployment.
Tanzania’s Teaching Service Commission (TSC) reports that as of October 2024, the country had 274,541 teachers—180,325 in primary schools and 94,216 in secondary schools. In late 2023, the government announced 11,015 new teaching positions, which omitted thousands of hopeful graduate teachers.
This happens at a time when demand for teachers remains high, especially at the primary level.
The National Economic Survey 2023, released by the Ministry of Finance, reveals that in 2023, Tanzania needed 116,885 additional teachers to balance student-teacher ratios, with 52,884 required for early childhood education and 64,001 for primary schools.
Government’s capacity to hire
The scale of unemployment is further reflected in the recent job advertisements by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).On February 6, 2025, TRA announced 1,596 job vacancies.
However, an overwhelming 135,027 applications were received, translating to an average of 85 applicants competing for each position.
“This is clear evidence of a growing crisis,” says Mzumbe University lecturer Ms Agnes Msomela.
“We need solutions, including empowering youth for self-employment and creating a more conducive environment for them to enter sectors such as agriculture.”
Government Spokesperson Gerson Msigwa recently acknowledged the employment crisis, stating that unemployment was not confined to the teaching profession, noting that graduates from various fields struggle to find jobs as well.
“The government is aware of unemployed teachers and will continue hiring as resources allow. However, employing everyone immediately would require diverting funds from essential services like healthcare, water, and infrastructure,” he explained.
“Unemployment is a nationwide challenge. Every year, over 500 journalists graduate, yet media houses cannot absorb them all. The same applies to community development officers, economists, and lawyers.”
In 2023, public schools enrolled over 10.82 million students, requiring more than 240,541 teachers to achieve the government’s recommended student-teacher ratio of 1:45. However, there were only 176,540 teachers, leaving a shortfall of 64,001.
The shortage is even more pronounced in early childhood education, where only 9,608 teachers were available against the required 62,491. This means each teacher handled an average of 163 students—six times the government’s recommended class size of 25.
The growing number of university graduates is driven by high enrolment rates.
In the 2023/2024 academic year, 106,570 students were admitted to various courses, with 27,731 choosing education. “Continuing with the same enrolment patterns without considering market demand will only worsen the employment crisis,” Ms Msomela warns.
They call for reforms in higher education admissions, urging universities to prioritise fields with higher employment potential.
While teaching remains oversaturated, other sectors show increasing demand for professionals.
Healthcare, engineering, technology, and vocational trades are among the fields where skilled workers are urgently needed.
“We must shift our focus toward areas like nursing, software development, and renewable energy,” says education analyst Charles Mandari. “These fields align with global trends and offer better job prospects.”
He opined that the Higher Education Loans Board (HESLB) should re-evaluate the allocation of funds and prioritise programmes that assure loan recovery.
“By doing so, HESLB will greatly help reduce the number of students opting for programmes in fields where the country already has enough experts. Instead, it will enable students to pursue areas with high employment opportunities, allowing them to repay their loans,” said Mr Mandari.
Education reforms are currently underway and are expected to address these issues.
The government has initiated changes aimed at strengthening vocational training, improving the quality of education, and ensuring graduates are equipped with skills that match market needs.
