There are over 1.2 billion young persons in the
world today. It is estimated that youth make up 18 percent of the global
population and 25 percent of the total working age population. About 90
per cent of young people are born in developing countries, where around
half of the total population lives in rural areas. The highest average
annual population growth over the last ten years was registered in
Sub-Saharan Africa (2.5 per cent), the Middle East (2.2 per cent), North
Africa (1.7 per cent) and South Asia (1.7 per cent). The growth of
youth population is projected to reach its peak in 2035.
Of the
world's estimated 211 million unemployed people in 2009, nearly 40 per
cent – or about 81 million – were between 15 to 24 years old, (ILO
Global Employment Trends, January 2010). The youth unemployment rate
rose drastically during the recent global economic crisis – more sharply
than ever before – from 11.9 to 13.0 per cent. Unemployment is more
widespread among young people living in urban areas. Unemployment is a
less-affordable option for people living in rural areas, where most
young workers have to accept any job in order to survive. In addition,
an estimated 400 million youth worldwide – or about one third of all
youth aged 15 to 24 – suffer from a deficit of decent work opportunities
(Decent employment for youth is targeted in the
Millennium Development Goals,
Goal 1, target 1.B). The vast majority of jobs available to youth are
low paid, insecure, and with few benefits or prospects for advancement.
Some 152 million young people, even if they have a
job, live in households that earn less than the equivalent of USD1.25
per day (ILO Global Employment Trends for Youth, August 2010).
Furthermore, in some countries there is an increase in worker
discouragement among youth per capita that has led some young people to
give up the job search.
In Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, up
to 70 per cent of youth live in rural areas and half of the young
labour force works in agriculture (IFAD, 2007). Although employment in
agriculture declined during the decade 1998 – 2008, it still remains the
main source of employment for more than half of people working in East
Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia and Sub-Saharan
Africa.
Lack of investments, to improve decent work prospects
for young people in rural areas, often results in lower living standards
and de-population of rural areas. The scarce availability of decent
work and decent living opportunities and the little hope of a better
future are the main factors pushing youth to migrate from rural to urban
areas or abroad. Often, youth migration to urban areas leads to
unemployment, poverty and alienation and, in some cases, to anti-social
behaviours or exploitation.
If you are interested you can read more about this topic
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Source:
Food, Agriculture & Decent Work
