adminMinister Kasukuwere made the remarks at the national youth employment conference in Harare yesterday.
The conference was held under the theme, “Building a future with decent work for young people”.
“There are 42 vocational schools in the country which offer technical and entrepreneurship skills.
“There is need to strengthen entrepreneurship education in schools and tertiary institutions in order to instill the entrepreneurial culture among the youths to facilitate self-employment,” he said.
Minister Kasukuwere said Stanbic Bank had injected $20 million in the youth development fund.
Government is considering levying companies to support the youth development fund, he said.
Zimbabwe was selected among other 10 countries in Africa at the International Labour Conference to host a national event, which will bring together policy makers and youths to discuss youth employment policies and programmes.
Zimbabwe is among 50 countries in the world, which will attend a global Youths Employment Forum in Geneva at the end of May.
Country Director of the International Labour Office for Zimbabwe, Mr Alphonse Tabiabodo, said unemployment had become a global crisis.
“Between 2007 and 2010 youth unemployment increased by 5.1 million and in 2012 four out of 10 unemployed are youths.
“The world will need to create 600 million jobs over the next 10 years in order to absorb the 40 million new entrants annually into the labour market in addition to the 200 million already unemployed 75 percent of which are youths,” he said.
Mr Tabiabodo said since 2009 more than 2 000 jobs were created for youths.
Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment, Dr Thokozile Chitepo, officially launched the conference.
Online Reporter