The study was conducted in three, out of ten, provinces of Zambia, namely, Copperbelt,
Luapula and Southern, which were developed, less developed and backward respectively.
Since youth unemployment was prevailing in urban areas, towns/cities were selected for this
study and the data were collected during September to November 2015. The main objective
of this study was to find out the supply side determinants of youth unemployment like
education, training, access to finance, job information in both formal and informal sectors.
The study revealed that two-third unemployed youth studied up to secondary level and the
average number of years of training was negligible, i.e., 0.15 years only and the period of
youth unemployment was 3.6 years. Nearly half had ICT skills and access to internet. The
main factors determining youth unemployment in the formal sector were lack of required
qualification and training. In the informal sector three-fourth youth were willing to take up
self-employment but due to lack of access to capital they could not start any economic
activity. The study suggested that the employment and economic policies, at macro level,
should create jobs and improve access to finance. Labour market training, apprenticeship and
other work-experience programmes, job search assistance, employment services and
measures to support young people who want to establish their own economic activity should
be provided.