Main Sources of Cash IncomeThe 2012 Population and Housing Census Report show that Ukerewe District Council, like other rural councils of Mwanza region, has mainly dominated by few industries performed in the District. Commercial agriculture, food crops and forestry was reported to be the main source of income in the council engaged 73.9 percent of Ukerewe residents. It was followed by fishing, hunting, livestock and other related (7.5 percent), trade and commerce (4.0 percent), services for food hotel and lodges (2.7 percent), domestic services (2.3 percent), manufacturing (2.1 percent), selling raw (uncooked) food (1.6 percent), mining and quarrying (1.2 percent) and education (1.1 percent). Rest of industries such as haulage and storages, construction, administration and security services, professional services and other socio-economic industries accounted for less than a percent each.
Lack of diversification of the economy of Ukerewe District was also evidenced by limited number of main occupations which person spent most of his/her working time in the process of the production of goods and services. The 2012 population census shows that farming was the main occupation in Ukerewe District, employed 74.8 percent of residents aged 10 years and above. It was followed by fishermen (7.2 percent), elementary occupation (4.8 percent), service workers, shop and stall sales workers (2.7 percent), technicians and associate professionals (2.8 percent), crafts and related workers (2.2 percent) and street vendors (1.1 percent). Rest of occupations such as livestock keepers, legislators, administrators and managers, clerks have employed less than a percent each of Ukerewe residents.
Limitation of socio-economic opportunities causes a small difference of unemployment levels between usual and current economic activities performed by Ukerewe residents as revealed by the 2012 population census report. Usual economic activity, according to census definition is any activity a person had been engaged during the 12 months prior to the census night, while current economic activity has the same definition but with reference period of seven days prior to the census night.
Unemployment rate for current economic activities performed by District residents was slightly higher (2.2 percent) than for usual economic activities (1.7 percent). Slight differences are also observed on employed persons, full time students and those persons who were doing home maintenance mainly due to season differences. This means that there was a insignificant different of involvement of people between a week or a years in doing economic activities in Ukerewe district council.
Source: NBS, 2012 Population and Housing Census Report, Mwanza Region, 2016
