Employment

The Challenge

Despite robust economic growth, youth unemployment rates in the Middle East are high, ranging from 20 to 30 percent in most countries in the region but exceeding 45 percent in some countries (e.g. Algeria and Iraq). Young people with secondary and post-secondary education face severe difficulties in securing employment mainly due to skills mismatches and long queuing for public sector jobs. In fact, the average duration of unemployment spells for youth with university or vocational education can still be measured in years.

The Opportunity

The Middle East experienced high economic growth, with real GDP per capita increasing by about 4.0 percent per year from 2004 to 2006. This figure is up from 2.6 percent during the first four years of the decade and from 1.7 percent during the 1990s. In 2010, GDP growth in the region is expected to be 4.4 percent, as the global economy bounces back from the 2008-2009 economic crisis. Further, private sector development, fueled by foreign and domestic investments, is becoming a major engine of job growth. Spreading the benefits of such growth will mean ensuring job creation rates accelerate to meet the demands of young workers. Moreover, the quality of these jobs is crucial if young people are to fulfill their potential and life goals.