A new labour market survey has revealed that 12.8% of Ugandans aged 15 and above have no formal education, underscoring a persistent challenge in accessing skilled employment and narrowing the country’s labour market opportunities.
The findings are contained in the latest report released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).
According to the survey, while a majority of Ugandans have attained some level of schooling, a significant portion remains outside the formal education system entirely, limiting employability across both formal and informal sectors.
The data shows that education attainment remains heavily concentrated at lower levels. About 40.1% of Ugandans reported some primary education as their highest level, while 15.6% completed primary school.
A further 20.1% have some secondary education, but progression beyond that level remains limited.
Only 2.8% of the population has completed secondary education, while 2.6% have attained post-secondary or vocational training.
University graduates and individuals with higher qualifications make up an even smaller share.
The report emphasises that education and skills training are critical to improving employment prospects, but the current structure of attainment continues to slow workforce transformation.
It categorises formal education into pre-primary, primary, secondary, vocational training, and university education, noting that transition rates to higher levels remain low.
With most Ugandans clustered at primary and lower secondary levels, the findings point to sustained pressure on the labour market to absorb workers with limited formal skills.