2026 IJRSE – Volume 15 Issue 6
Available Online: 9 March 2026
Author/s:
Mmari, Wiljames Daniel*
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia (james0755@1utar.my)
Francis, Kristina A/p
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia (kristinaf@utar.edu.my)
Idris, Wan Irma Sabrina
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia (sabrina@utar.edu.my)
Abstract:
Unemployment among young people remains a critical challenge in Tanzania, despite increasing investment in vocational training. Persistent skills mismatches and limited labour-market relevance have constrained the employability of many graduates, particularly in the context of a transitioning green economy. This study examines the combined effects of vocational education and green-technology training on youth employability in Tanzania, guided by Human Capital Theory. The purpose is to assess whether integrating conventional vocational skills with green competencies improves employment outcomes and supports sustainable livelihoods. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed to survey 171 trainees at the VETA Kipawa ICT Centre using simple random sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression in SPSS. Instrument reliability was confirmed with strong Cronbach’s alpha values for vocational education (α = .958) and green-technology training (α = .768). Results show that vocational education positively influences employability (β = .145, p = .048), whereas green technology training is a stronger predictor (β = .695, p = .000), with both accounting for 66.7% of the variance in employment outcomes (R² = 0.667). The study finds that incorporating green-technology training into TVET programs is necessary to enhance young people’s employability and create long-term jobs in Tanzania. It concludes that integrating green technology training into TVET programmes is essential for improving youth employability and fostering sustainable livelihoods. It recommends curriculum reform to embed green skills, strengthen industry partnerships, and expand apprenticeship and green entrepreneurship opportunities, thereby aligning training systems with evolving labour-market demands.
Keywords: green technology training, sustainable agenda, vocational education, Tanzania, youth employment
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26830
Cite this article:
Mmari, W. D., Francis, K. A., & Idris, W. I. S. (2026). Fostering sustainable livelihoods: The role of vocational education and green technology training in youth employment in Tanzania. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 15(6), 163-174. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26830
* Corresponding Author