06-05-2025
Tunisia: 'Without emigration, unemployment would reach 19%,' says academic expert
For four decades, Tunisia has struggled with persistently high unemployment rates that have never been structurally reduced like in developed countries, according to economics professor Hamadi Tizaoui.
Speaking on Express FM, Tizaoui attributed the chronic joblessness to an economic model that fails to generate employment, stressing the need to reconsider this model.
Other reason mentioned is consistently weak GDP growth.
However, the unemployment rate has fallen somewhat in recent years due to high levels of migration. 'Without emigration, the unemployment rate would have been around 19%,' he said.
The academic pointed to climate change, which has affected many sectors, particularly agriculture, and contributed to the decline in the growth rate.
'Tunisia has never experienced such low growth rates in the post-independence history of the Tunisian economy as in the last 15 years,' he explained.
In the same context, he pointed out that the growth rate from 2015 to date has been zero or lower, which is not conducive to job creation, he said, pointing to the parallel economy that has affected growth.
