The rate of unemployment among the youth has been increasing over the years. According to the Bhutan Labor Force Survey 2006, unemployment rate among the youth now stands at 9.7%. This is an increase of more than 3% from 6.19% in 2005.

The Survey revealed that of the 7200 people unemployed in 2006, more than 4000 were youth. Of that more than 50% were school drop outs from primary level to university graduates. This is a cause of concern for the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources.

Karma Lhendup is the head of Labor market and Information of the Department of Employment. He told BBS that the growing rate of unemployment among the youth is mostly because of the mismatch of skills the job seekers posses and the demand in the job markets. “Most job seekers do not prefer to work outside government and corporations,� he said. Source: BBS

The survey also found that most youth preferred working in urban towns like Phuentsholing and Thimphu, adding to the problem of unemployment. To tackle the issue, the Ministry has been taking various measures from organizing job fairs to expanding trainings at the vocational training institutes in the kingdom.

Karma Lhendup said that the Ministry is currently studying the demand for skills in the job market and trying to incorporate in the vocational training institutes.

The Ministry has also been working on the apprentice training programs where the job seekers are sent on attachments with private companies and gradually enroll in the companies. These strategies the ministry says will help solve the problem of unemployment in the country.