United Nations agencies said on Monday during the high-level regional meeting on Young People’s Learning, Skilling, Inclusion, and Work, held on Monday, in Jordan, that more than 33 million new jobs need to be created by 2030 in the Middle East and North Africa.
In a joint statement, the UN agencies said that youth unemployment in those countries is almost twice as high as the world average and has grown 2.5 times faster than the world average between 2010 and 2021.
These numbers represent a significant drain on the economic potential of the region. To reduce the overall unemployment rate to 5 percent and to be able to absorb the large number of young people entering the workforce and stabilize youth unemployment, the region needs to create more than 33.3 million new jobs by 2030, the statement noted.
In this regard, ILO, said: "Worldwide, the recovery of the global jobs market is also going into reverse, blaming COVID and “other multiple crises” that have increased inequalities within and between countries."
According to its latest update on the world of work, there are 112 million fewer full-time jobs today than there were before the pandemic.
The regional meeting aims to address the means of strengthening links between learning and the labor market.
These include enhancing education systems - including skilling and technical and vocational education and training - strengthening links between learning and the labor market; enhancing policies, and exploring opportunities with the private sector to create jobs and support youth entrepreneurship.
“Young people need life skills education to help them explore and nurture positive values regarding their health, rights, families, relationships, gender roles and equality, and empower them to shape their lives and make informed decisions about their reproductive life”, the agencies highlighted.
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