A senior World Bank official has sounded the alarm about a looming global youth unemployment crisis. At a recent conference in Saudi Arabia, Safaa EL Tayeb EL-Kogali, the World Bank’s Country Director for the Gulf Cooperation Council, warned that the world is facing a potential shortfall of 300 million jobs for young people entering the workforce over the next decade.
This massive gap between job demand and supply could have severe social and economic consequences, El-Kogali emphasized. “Over 400 million people are currently willing to work but remain unemployed, highlighting the urgent need for action,” she stated.
The conference brought together global leaders, experts, and policymakers to discuss solutions to this critical challenge.
The Saudi Arabian Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmad Bin Salman Alrajhi, echoed these concerns. He pointed out that millions of young people worldwide struggle to find quality employment due to a variety of factors, including skills mismatches, rapid technological advancements, and demographic shifts.
“This is not just an economic issue; it has profound social implications,” Alrajhi said. “We must equip young people with the skills they need to succeed in the modern workforce.”
The Minister highlighted successful examples from other countries, such as Germany’s vocational training programs and Singapore’s skills development initiatives, as potential models for addressing youth unemployment. He emphasized the need for bold and proactive measures to prepare for the future of work and create a more inclusive and equitable job market.
