Arab unemployment needs to be solved
Radicalism will thrive where economic opportunity is limited and young people are out of work
In a lecture that focused on the challenges facing Arab youth and as part of the 14th Middle East business conference last Friday, a former foreign minister of Kuwait has sounded a clarion call on Arab leaders to create jobs — and quickly.
Citing figures from the World Bank, Shaikh Mohammad Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah warned that 54 per cent of the youth in the Middle East and North Africa region were unemployed — and that three out of every four young women were also without work. He added that Arab governments need to create 100 million jobs by 2020 to turn the tide on the growing issue of joblessness among the youth.
The sheer scale of the issue outlined by Shaikh Mohammad shows that there’s a need for a multi-pronged approach.
The youth must be provided with educational opportunities and be encouraged to embark on the road of entrepreneurship. And governments need to diversify their economies to grow in non-traditional areas and use technology to foster job growth.
The flip side is that unless these young people are engaged, their lack of opportunity can be exploited by radicals who peddle violent philosophies as an alternative.
