Libya’s unemployment situation—around 12%— is not only about a lack of jobs. There are vacancies in certain sectors but many young Libyans are unwilling to fill them, or they are  reluctant to attend government sponsored job training programs. And thanks to glitches in the system, employed citizens were registered as unemployed and enjoyed benefits from the state.

A withered public sector, an inefficient private sector and the exodus of foreign companies fearing the chaotic security situation have all contributed to the unstable labor market.

Libya’s unemployment situation—around 12%— is not only about a lack of jobs. There are vacancies in certain sectors but many young Libyans are unwilling to fill them, or they are  reluctant to attend government sponsored job training programs. And thanks to glitches in the system, employed citizens were registered as unemployed and enjoyed benefits from the state.

A withered public sector, an inefficient private sector and the exodus of foreign companies fearing the chaotic security situation have all contributed to the unstable labor market.

Rabia Ammar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor and Rehabilitation shared more insight about the problematic labor market in a nation that, under Muammar Gaddafi, spent 42 years in a labor vacuum.

What is the current rate of unemployment in Libya today?

This year we launched a job seekers initiative to try and create employment opportunities. The aim was to tackle rising unemployment in Libya. We asked all those out of work to register. This turned out to be 12% of the population.

However since then we have come to understand that this figure has been grossly exaggerated.  At the time of the registration a rumor started circulating that all those out of work would receive a cash payment from the government. This led to many people calling themselves unemployed when they were either working or not in a position to be employed.

There is a common misconception in Libya that if you don’t work in the public sector you can be classed as unemployed. This is even the case for those who hold private licenses. And we all know that there can be considerable financial reward in the private sector.  To be clear the International Labor Organization defines the unemployed to be those people who are without work and are actively seeking employment.

So what is being done about this?

Well the Ministry has launched an investigation. To start with they have excluded students, older women who are no longer of working age and those who have a license to work in the private sector from this figure. They also checked the results against the records of the public sector and found some people who work in government administration had been included in the unemployment figures; so these were excluded too. All these people had registered as unemployed in order to get the cash payment.

So when the inquiry is concluded we expect the figure to go down.

What about employment opportunities in the Libya’s public administration?

Since the 1970s there have been rampant inefficiencies in the country’s public administration. Almost half of government employees hold a position but don’t actually fulfill any function. It is impossible to get rid of surplus positions or bring in new employees except when some one else retires or dies.

What about vocational training provision? 

We have set up vocational centers to train young people for roles for which there is demand, such as mechanics, welders, refrigeration and air conditioning engineers. However these jobs are not considered highly by Libyan youths, and so they have not signed up for the courses. In recent years these roles have been fulfilled by foreign workers. They take the salaries and send the money home to their families. This is causing a considerable drain on our economy.

Why is there such snobbery about certain jobs and professions?

This is a real obstacle facing the Ministry of Labor. Recently an inquiry was launched to investigate the backgrounds of those in the cleaning, restaurant and hospitality industries. Entitled ‘the Grand Tripoli Campaign’ it found that these roles were almost all filled by foreigners. The Ministry tried to launch an awareness campaign amongst Libyans, encouraging them to apply for such jobs. However the uptake was very low. Young people in Libya are interested in get rich quick schemes or just want to leave the country.

Why is Libya’s youth so reluctant to undergo training?

Young people in Libya aspire to work but show a marked reluctance to undergo training. This culture has deepened since the February 17^th Revolution. Large numbers of youth are being employed by the Ministries of Interior and Defense to provide security work. They are paid a salary of 1400 dinars (820 Euros) for up to four days work  a month as a guard. This is easy work and a good salary so many take it even if they hold qualifications in professions much needed by the state?  

What has happened to those who used to work for foreign companies?

Many foreign projects were terminated during the Revolution, and afterwards, because of the deteriorating security situation. The Ministry of Labor tried to compensate the Libyan workforce by offering them vocational training. We hired 320 training officers to train 22,000 workers in English, computer skills and health and safety qualifications. The course runs for four months, at the end of which the trainees will be given a grant of 200 dinars (115 Euros) and a computer.

With the less capable trainees we have found they come for the grant and are not interested in the training. We were shocked to discover the huge drop out rate following registration. One center which had the capacity for  60 trainees, only 20  were taking the course. In some instances new trainees could be brought in to replace the drop outs, but not in all cases.

The Ministry of Labor also has plans to send the top 15% of trainees to study abroad for a year. We have been in contact with several countries including USA, Britain, Malaysia and Canada. After the training they will then be offered an employment contract for a certain period.

What about unqualified job seekers?

The Ministry of Labor is working on a vocational program for those who lack qualifications. We have an agreement with a number of organizations in Italy, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan to provide training for those job seekers who lack formal qualifications.

We are also working on a joint venture with the Syrian Ministry of Labor whereby 1,400 Libyas will be sent for training with international companies including Hyundai, Samsung & LG. The trainees will undergo a month course here in Libya. And after that they will be assigned to specialized courses according to their aptitudes for a period of six months to a year.

The aim is to encourage the notion of training in the Libyan labor force. In the future we hope that some of the trainees will go on to become the next generation of trainers. 

How do you follow up these projects?

The Ministry of Labor has commissioned independent inspection teams to visit the training centers in all the different cities and monitor the effectiveness of the training schemes. Those that are deemed unworthy are closed down. These inspection teams are run by the Capacity Building Agency.   

What are your hopes for the future?

I am optimistic that things will get better.  The workforce will get trained slowly and there will be more job opportunities for our young people.