According to the Ministry of Education unemployment amongst educated people, some of whom have qualified overseas, is on a par with the unemployment of recently graduated high school students posing a serious threat to the development of the nation.

This situation according to the ministry is attributed to the limited job market. "I believe we must be proactive in creating jobs for these people, jobs which use their intellectual capacity and qualifications, and try not to rely only on the public service employment opportunities," said Minister for Education Bendito Freitas recently at the launch of the 2014 Australian and New Zealand Development Scholarships.

The ceremony took place at the Beach Gardens Hotel in Pantai Kelapa, Dili. He said the government is looking at ways to create job opportunities during the establishment of the district municipalities as well as the supply base installation in Suai.

ADS/NZDS Manager Maria Braz said more than 400 Timorese students have been awarded ADS/NZDS scholarships since 2000. Of those some had yet to find jobs in areas for which they had qualifications.

"For those who have not as yet found a job we are channeling them through graduate programs within the government so they get some experience," she said.

Students graduated in areas of agriculture, health, economics as well as others. In 2014 scholarships will be awarded to 55 candidates, 40 from Australia and 15 from New Zealand.

Data from the Secretariat of State for Professional Training and Employment Policy shows the number of qualified unemployed, including those with tertiary education, is 9000.