Sindh, a major province in Pakistan, faces a seriously high unemployment rate among educated youth.
Research conducted by Gallup Pakistan and PRIDE using 2020-21 Labour Force Survey data shows much unemployed urban youth in Sindh are university graduates, questioning the effectiveness of the education system and the availability of jobs for these educated individuals.
While the overall youth unemployment rate in Sindh is 3.9%, the rate in Karachi, Sindh’s most populous division, is as high as 11.18%. Moreover, the unemployment rate is more significant among females and urban residents, highlighting the need for gender-responsive and location-specific policies.
The studies reveal a troubling trend: a higher percentage of educated youth are unemployed than their less-educated counterparts. Dr. Shahid Naeem, Director of Policy Research at PRIDE, urges the Sindh government to integrate marketable technical skills into mainstream education.
Bilal Gilani, Executive Director at Gallup Pakistan, calls for overhauling current employment strategies and education systems.
The findings emphasize the urgent need for strategic policies in Sindh to tackle the high unemployment rate among educated youth, fostering job creation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth.”
