Youth unemployment
“Why can't a billion young people find work that pays enough to make a living?”
Root causes (expand to see solutions)
What's at stake
Early unemployment scars lifetime earnings, holding wages down long after work resumes. Unable to earn a stable income, many put off leaving home, marrying, or starting a family, and large numbers migrate in search of work. Where joblessness runs this deep, the risk of unrest and political instability rises.
The global picture
Sub-Saharan Africa
High severity
A youth boom meets too few formal jobs, leaving most in insecure work.
These are the most acute regions and notable examples; the problem reaches many other countries too.