Youth Violence Prevention: Investing in Youth: Why It Matters for Our Future
At a community centre job fair, 19-year-old Amina nervously approaches a company booth. She’s bright and motivated, but like many of her peers, she’s struggling to find work without experience. Her situation reflects a global challenge. Even as economies recover, youth unemployment remains stubbornly high – nearly 65 million young people worldwide are still out of work. In 2023, roughly one in five youth were not in employment, education, or training (the “NEET” population). These aren’t just numbers; they represent millions of Aminas, full of potential but needing opportunities. For policymakers, the message is clear: investing in our youth is not just a moral imperative, it’s an economic and social necessity.
The Cost of Inaction: Youth who remain unemployed or underemployed carry scars that can last a lifetime – lower earnings, poorer health, and disengagement from civic life. High youth joblessness is also linked to social unrest; when young people feel left out of the economy, frustration can boil over into instability. Conversely, when youth find meaningful work, they contribute to economic growth, innovation, and a stronger social fabric. By neglecting this generation, we risk a future workforce that is ill-prepared and an economy that’s less competitive.
Education-to-Employment Gap: A common refrain from employers is that young applicants lack the skills needed for today’s jobs. Indeed, there is often a mismatch between what schools teach and what the market demands. Policymakers should bridge this gap. This means updating education curricula to include practical and digital skills and expanding vocational training and apprenticeships. For example, countries that have invested in apprenticeship programs (pairing classroom learning with on-the-job training) often see smoother school-to-work transitions. Aligning education with industry needs can turn youth into job creators as well as job seekers, especially with the right support for entrepreneurship.
Targeted Investments: Not all youth face the same barriers. Rural youth, young women, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds may need tailored interventions. Consider funding mentorship and internship programs that specifically reach marginalized communities. Support services like career counselling, resume workshops, and interview training in schools can demystify the hiring process for first-time job seekers. Additionally, investing in youth mental health and well-being is crucial; unemployment can take a psychological toll, and we want resilient, not disheartened, young citizens.
Public-Private Partnerships: Governments need not tackle this alone. Encourage businesses to be part of the solution – perhaps through tax incentives for companies that hire and train young workers, or public-private initiatives like coding bootcamps and innovation hubs. When Microsoft launched its Global Skills Initiative during the pandemic, it partnered with governments to equip millions of young people with digital skills, showing the impact of collaborative effort.
Amina’s story has a hopeful trajectory. Thanks to a government-funded youth employment scheme, she landed a three-month internship that gave her real experience – and the company gained a fresh perspective from a tech-savvy young mind. She’s now a full-time employee and even mentoring other youths at that same community centre. Her success story can be replicated at scale with the right policies. Each dollar invested in youth employment, education, or training yields returns in the form of productive workers, innovators, and engaged citizens. As policymakers, committing to youth is essentially committing to our nation’s future prosperity and stability. The next generation is ready to contribute; it’s our job to clear the path for them.
