Jobless youth big threat to nations, UN chief warns

By JOHN OYWA

A new report by the United Nations paints a grim future for the youth, saying joblessness, irrelevant education and unfriendly governments have left them hapless and bitter.

The World Youth Report released last week, said governments across the world, including Kenya, had insufficient and skewed investments in youth programmes.

The report was prepared by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and for the first time included input from young people — with many participating in an online discussion on employment.

"A main concern was that current education systems are not preparing young people adequately to compete in the job market," said UN Secretary General, Dr Ban Ki-moon.

Kenya is among many countries facing a youth explosion as challenges get stiffer amid dwindling job opportunities and an increase in social vices such as drug abuse.

Unemployment

Out of the 41 million Kenyans, over 70 per cent were youth under 30 years, majority of who were unemployed. This is according to the State of Kenya Population Report published recently by the National Co-ordinating Agency for Population and Development.

The population agency said high unemployment was associated with poverty, crime, poor access to basic social services and low quality of life.

Experts have described Kenya’s rising number of unemployed youth as a ticking time bomb, as many end up in drugs or as political hirelings.

In the report, the UN said the youth were especially worried that the education they received was overly theoretical, leaving them to acquire practical skills on their own.

"Young people questioned the quality of education they and their peers receive; whether or not it is relevant to available jobs, how their knowledge and skills will serve them in the long-term, and the extent to which decision-makers are committed to needed investment in the potential of young people," the report said.

It further noted that the global economic crisis had made only made matters worse. Ban Ki-moon urged for action to help address the problems.

"Today we have the largest generation of young people the world has ever known. They are demanding their rights and a greater voice in economic and political life," said Ki-moon.

Economic growth

He added: "We need to pull the UN system together like never before to support a new social contract of job-rich economic growth. Let us start with young people."

The report also revealed that even after finding work, young people faced unstable conditions. They were often the last to be hired and the first to be dismissed while young women faced greater challenges than their male counterparts, with many having to work part-time or in lower-paid occupations.

A Nairobi-based youth organisation — the Youth United for Social Mobilisation — on Monday welcomed the UN report, saying it would help address the challenges facing them.