THE QUESTION OF JOB CREATION IN CAMEROON

JOB CREATION IN CAMEROON

Some time ago, the government ruled that each year, the National Institute for Statistics would research, compile and publish relevant information in  what it termed the `Annual Inquiry into Enterprises`. The Institute has just made public the first of such studies.

The investigation was performed on a total of 700 Cameroonian enterprises and focused on output, profitability and job creation. Data used was from 2011, with the study being executed in the fourth quarter of 2012. The objective was to come up with structural indicators of the firms concerned, while using the data as the basis for future similar exercises as well as a stimulus for boosting industrial production in the country.

Researchers started off with a sample of 750 firms, 539 of which reported favorably and correctly to questionnaires. Of the sample, 64 per cent was from large enterprises, 31 per cent from medium-sized ones and 5 per cent from small-sized enterprises.

One finding was that the work force of the firms surveyed had risen from 386 263 in 2009 to 460 000 in 2011This represented  an increase of 73 737, in real terms, of new jobs created in the two years from 2009 to 2011. Also, according to the study, small-sized enterprises employed more woman than men, which was a difference of 35.6 per cent, while the large firms only recorded 21.1 per cent. Concerning performance, the VAT rate stood at 25 per cent in the primary sector, 36 per cent in industry and 28.7 per cent in commerce and services.

On the foreign market, only a negligible 3.1 per cent of Cameroonian firms in the study did receive any direct foreign ventures. On the other hand, the use of the computer as a means of communication increased on all fronts. Another rising indicator was that of internet being used in business transactions, with 96 per cent of large enterprises making full use of it as opposed to 86 per cent of medium-scale enterprises.

Concerning the environment, only two out of every ten businesses were found to recycle their waste products, whereas all of them produced waste matter. So what happened to the rest of it?

Surely, despite the instances of progress, a lot remains to be done in this sector.

FOOTNOTE

This story was first broadcast on FOUNDATION RADIO, FM 100, The Voice of the Voiceless, Mile 6, Ngomgham-Mankon, Bamenda, North West Region, Bamenda, on the 11^th of September 2013. The Radio is part of the USA-based Fomunyoh Foundation (TFF) whose CEO is Dr. Chris Fomunyoh.