Share

Tunisia's 700 000 jobless needs a miracle

Tunis - The central bank governor warned on Friday that unless there is a "miracle", chronic unemployment will persist in Tunisia where sometimes violent social unrest has taken place two years after the revolution.

"If the job market manages in the coming years to solve the unemployment problem, it will be a miracle," Chedly Ayari told Shems-FM radio.

"The number of jobless is too high at 700 000," he said.

"With each passing year there are 100 000 more (entering the job market), and half of these have degrees. Even if we create 100 00 new jobs a year, we won't be able to reduce the 'stock'," Ayari said.

Based on studies looking ahead to 2015-2017, Ayari said unemployment could settle at 10-11% under "ideal conditions" in the economy, as opposed to the current 17-18%.

The lack of jobs and dire social conditions, especially among the young, were driving factors behind the revolution that ousted long-time dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011.

Hopes for rapid change have been dashed, resulting in the outbreak of serious social unrest descending into violence.

The nation has been rocked by discontent that exploded into violence earlier this month in the southern town of Ben Guerdane and at Siliana in the northwest last month, injuring 300 people.

The precarious security situation during the past two years and a cloud of political uncertainty hanging over the country have also caused a rapid fall in investment, adding to the unemployment problem.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.07
-0.9%
Rand - Pound
24.07
-0.7%
Rand - Euro
20.56
-0.5%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.37
-0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.8%
Platinum
899.20
+0.3%
Palladium
999.25
-0.3%
Gold
2,210.66
+0.7%
Silver
24.56
-0.4%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,080
+0.6%
All Share
74,278
+0.5%
Resource 10
56,967
+2.4%
Industrial 25
103,572
+0.3%
Financial 15
16,456
-0.4%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders