Labor Minister urges youth to seek vocational education

The Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi disclosed in a lecture at the Lebanese American University (LAU) yesterday that some 1.8 million out of a total 4 million population work, 64% of which are males and 36% females. In his talk, ‘Labor Market Challenges in Lebanon’, Azzi pointed out that the Lebanese Government which has forsaken the productive economy for many years now constitutes the biggest obstacle for the domestic labor force. “All the undertakings that have been implemented in the nineties of the last Century did not create employment prospects, rather money, corruption, brokerage businesses and urban constructions for non-Lebanese nationals,” he said. On the other hand, the minister criticized the arrogance of the Lebanese people who do not settle for less than higher class professions, turning down the ordinary jobs that are mostly needed by the community.

Talking figures, Azzi noted that of the total Lebanese workforce, the finance and insurance sectors make nearly 39%; industry, 12%; trade, 27%; construction sector, 9%; communications, 7% and, finally, agriculture accommodates for the least percentage, 6%, of the human resources. This means, Azzi said, the productive sectors provide for the least workforce.  “The young generation are mainly inclined to follow up higher university studies with  disregard to vocational education,” the minister said, warning this “can pose a big threat to the nation”. The unforgivable  crime committed by the government since the nineties, Azzi went on to say, is legitimizing unaccredited higher education institutions that generate unwanted graduates”. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, October 27, 2015)