Characteristics and Determinants of Youth Unemployment in Ethiopia

Abstract

Youth unemployment is a serious concern to policy makers in many developing
countries because of its multidimensional impact. In this connection. the paper
attempts to characterize youth unemployment in Ethiopia and reveal its mojor
determinants. Univariate results indicate that the youth in general, including
teenager youth and, young adults. those living in urban centres ~ike Addis Ababa
and Dire Dawa. those with primary and secondary educQlion. as well as femole
youth face Large unemployment spells. From the regression results. we found the
prime age moLe unemployment rate to be a positive significant predictor of youth
unemployment rates whereas demographic trends were found to be insignificant.