DRC Hails Job Creation

President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has recently foiled an assassination plot by Belgian nationals. The mineral-rich Central African state was formerly colonized by Brussels., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

DRC hails job creation

Thursday, 02 May 2013 00:00

KINSHASA. — More than 13 000 jobs were generated in 2012 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African country said while marking the International Labour Day. Congolese Labour Minister

Modeste Bahati Lukwebo said 13 552 positions were created in the past year in a message broadcast on Tuesday on the eve of the International Labour Day.

Citing the latest statistics, the minister said 1 925 jobs were created in the first sector (agriculture), 2 558 jobs in the second (industry) and 9 069 jobs in the third (service).

Appreciating the efforts by companies to add decent jobs and provide professional training, Lukwebo admitted there is still a big gap between job generation and the population of the jobless.

He called for more efforts to tackle unemployment, especially among youths, who constitute the most important manpower.

A report by the United Nations Development Programme on unemployment in DR Congo showed that youths aged 15 to 24 in urban areas are the most affected by the joblessness. Their unemployment rate of 32,23 percent is higher than the national rate of 17,8 percent.

— Xinhua.