LUSAKA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The number of people joining the labor market in search of employment in Zambia has risen to about 350,000 per year, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Situmbeko Musokotwane, the Minister of Finance and National Planning said most of the people seeking employment and other opportunities in the labor market were young people.

In remarks delivered at a 2023 national budget consultative meeting, the minister said this has put increased pressure on the government to provide job opportunities through putting in place favorable taxes that promote economic growth.

According to him, there was a need to have taxes that promote economic growth in order to create job opportunities for citizens, adding that taxes were important in attracting investments into the economy.

The ministry, he said, has been holding consultative meetings in order to get views from stakeholders on the type of incentives required to attract more investments into the economy.