The global population is getting younger. Worldwide there are over 1.2 billion young people aged 15 – 24 years* which accounts for one out of every six people. But for the majority of these young people there are not enough jobs available to them.
Youth unemployment and population growth are the most critical issues of our time. The situation is particularly pressing in sub-Saharan Africa, where 12 million young people enter the labour market each year but only 3.1 million jobs are created. Many countries are struggling to provide education, productive employment and decent work for all. As the population increases, this challenge is becoming more acute – by 2050, Africa’s population is set to double.
Ensuring all young people, including the most marginalised, can unlock their potential through access to decent work is crucial to break the cycle of poverty on an individual and country level. Improving education and training, combined with increasing access to finances are all part of the solution.
This is where we come in. Throughout our programmes we work with a number of partners to provide access to finance, training and support that enable people to thrive. And this includes young people. Equipping young people with employable skills and business knowledge enables them to work towards a more secure future.
*The UN definition of ‘Youth’.