Tunisia: Understanding Conflict 2012 - Johns Hopkins School of ...

Addressing Unemployment
Rebekah Chang
Through his self-immolation on 17 December 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi became an
important catalyst for Tunisia’s recent “Jasmine Revolution.” His economic struggles
took on symbolic value and became the trigger for the protests in Sidi Bouzid, where the
unemployment rate was around 30%. Economic grievances, with unemployment at the
forefront, were at the heart of the revolution and remain a pressing issue today. Lowering
unemployment is crucial for the success of this revolution and should be addressed with
greater urgency according to the recommendations that follow below.
Background
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region witnessed strong economic growth
from the early 2000s, with a GDP growth rate that ranged from 4% to 6% through 2008.
After two years of slower growth due to the global financial crisis, the region again
recorded a high GDP growth rate of 4.5% in 2010. However, this was not accompanied
by a similar rise in the employment growth rate, which remained between 2% and 4%
throughout the 2000s. This has translated into an unemployment rate that ranges from
15% to 30% for the countries in this region, by far the highest in the world. Tunisia is
not an exception. While witnessing real GDP growth levels around 5% between 2003
and 2008, the unemployment rate stayed around 13% during this time. In 2010, at the
start of the Jasmine Revolution, the unemployment rate was 14.2%. However, due to
ongoing instability in the country since the revolution, the unemployment rate is currently
around 18%. In some towns bordering Algeria, it is estimated that unemployment is as
high as 50%.
Further analysis reveals that the entry of more women into the labor force and the
rapid growth of the youth population are the primary causes of high unemployment.
Women have made substantial gains in labor force participation since the 1950s due to
changing social norms and greater access to education. The youth unemployment rate, at
30%, is almost double the general unemployment rate. The prospects for university
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