Findings from the 2024 Labour Force Survey reveal that out of 760,230 young Basotho aged 15 to 35, approximately 145,087 are unemployed. Nearly 39% of youth actively searching for jobs struggle to find employment. The overall youth unemployment rate stands at 38.9%, with young women facing greater difficulties at 40.8%, compared to 37.1% for young men. Additionally, only 31.48% of young people are either employed or actively seeking work. A significant number have lost hope, with over 226,857 no longer searching for employment. This was addressed by Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr Matlanyane in her budget speech yesterday.