Editor,

Reference is made to the story, "Experience: The dilemma of a fresh graduate” (The New Times, July 22).

An unemployment rate of 3.4% in 2012, and 1.2% in 2006! Surely the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR) should clarify this figure!

If it were true, Rwanda's employment situation would be the envy of every country in the world. How could it be this low when announcements for even the most basic jobs attract hundreds of applicants?

Chris

***************************Unemployment at 3.4% in Rwanda, in 2012! I am puzzled by this as well, and if someone from the National Institute of Statistics could explain how they arrived at that number.

On another note, I find it alarming to have a high number of graduates in Rwanda, staying unemployed for a long time. Rwanda, as a country, should do whatever it can to avoid leaving these young graduates unemployed for a long period of time.

Having a high rate of unemployment in any country, can be dangerous to social order. Frustrations that come out of that situation can be difficult to control. A hungry person can become an angry person, and I am referring to an empty stomach and/or an empty wallet.

We should keep in mind that Rwanda is not rich in natural resources. Therefore, just like some other countries such as South Korea, emphasis should be put on building and developing our human resources. This is, in my opinion, one way, among others of course, of keeping Rwanda on the path to fighting poverty and reaching sustainable socio-economic development.

I would like to end by suggesting that the concept of internship be given all the importance and seriousness it deserves. It is deplorable to see how a good number of students waste time in so-called internships, hoping that they will help make them more employable, just to find that they were not relevant.

Dev