In Mkushi youth unemployment is high; reasons indicated are lack of industries, lack of skills, low levels of education attainment, corruption and nepotism and low entrepreneurship levels coupled with financial challenges.
This is having a severe impact on the local society.
On the ground in Mkushi
High poverty, lack of self esteem, criminal activities, excessive alcohol consumption and prostitution are all social issues that are attributed to lack of job opportunities in this area.
Employment opportunity in the Mkushi district is limited and consists mainly of agriculture, mining, shop sales or market sales, tailoring.
Opportunities in agriculture
Youths should be encouraged into farming, as agriculture is the main economic activity of Mkushi district, with maize, soya beans and groundnuts being the major crops.
The district has abundant land resources that can sustain crops, livestock and fish farming. It has potential for development in farming, tourism, mining and other industrial activities.
Mainly a male workforce
Women are underrepresented in the labour market due mainly to child rearing; the average woman has over 5 children, but there is relatively high infant mortality and deaths before age 5 stand at almost 8%.