Tackling Youth Unemployment and Migration Crisis
The youth of any nation are the most valuable asset it has. They make up the next generation of parents, workers and leaders of any nation and it is their energy and ideas that will drive the country’s development. Among the various challenges that this group faces, unemployment is the most critical. Youth unemployment has security implications for almost every country, since desperation often leads young people to fall prey to warlords, criminal gangs, or illegal migration syndicates.
It has been projected that 1.2 billion young people will enter the labour market over the coming decade, and that only 300 million jobs await them. The consequences are now well known. We have seen unrest and dissatisfaction in different parts of the world. The most dangerous consequence of all however is the loss of hope by these energetic young people, who may seek other ways to release their energies.
In the absence of employment opportunities, many young people leave their homelands to seek a brighter future elsewhere. For individuals, migration can be one of the most powerful and immediate strategies for poverty reduction. It is also seen as the best option to escape conflict, to seek protection from persecution or serious harm, or to build a better life. Migrants achieve their desires through legal and illegal means.
The Mediterranean is fast becoming a sea of misery for thousands of illegal migrants. The dehumanizing conditions migrants go through everyday are not only deeply saddening, but should be a source of global concern. In spite of these challenges, many people, especially youth dare deaths on the sea, embarking on the tortuous and deadly journey every now and then.
Now is the time for all individuals, young and old; and for all countries, rich and poor to target the transnational organized crime groups and human smugglers who exploit desperate people, exposing them to unimaginable hardships in their bid for a better life. Above all, increasing young people’s awareness on the dangers of irregular migration has become more important than ever.
