The growing problem of youth unemployment and disaffection

Throughout the world, in countries where there are substantial ethnic minority groups, there is growing concern about youth unemployment and disaffection.

Almost one in three of the world's 1.5 billion Muslims live in a country where Muslims are a minority; and many thousands of second generation North Africans live in European cities together with the descendants of earlier immigrants.

Ethnic minorities face challenges of economic exclusion and groups of young people are demonstrating clear signs of disaffection. The challenges of these large populations are immense, in part because heads of households and young people are disproportionately unemployed and feel a sense of discrimination.

It is vital that these groups are engaged – both economically and politically – if successful co-existence and integration is to be achieved. The terrorist attacks in London and Madrid and the civil unrest in Paris in December stemmed in part from disaffection among young ethnic minorities.

In the Middle East and North Africa, a combination of youthful populations and high unemployment present an added challenge. There are currently 16m unemployed people in the Arab world, with expectations to reach 80m by 2020. Given the high proportion of young people in this region, this is clearly a looming youth unemployment crisis.

And the trend is not confined to the Middle East. A recent report by the International Labour Organisation revealed that half of the world's unemployed are young people aged 15-24 – a worrying statistic given that youth only make up a quarter of the working-age population.

Why is this a business issue?

No country's political or security policies can work without economic engagement for its citizens - through employment, reduced discrimination and the provision of second chance opportunities for young people in disaffected communities.

The impact of disaffection, lawlessness and threats of terrorism profoundly affects business, employees, communities and countries.

"It is fundamental - when 25% of young people in the Middle East are unemployed, the world is sitting on a 'ticking bomb'... it has a security dimension because desperate people do hopeless things."

Jean-Louis Sarbib, Senior Vice President and Head Human Development Network, World Bank, December 2005

What can business do to tackle the problem?

Through partnerships with education authorities, communities, NGOs, sports organisations, public authorities and security services, business can strengthen local communities and improve the career options for young people.

There is sensitivity about positive discrimination, but targeted measures to combat discrimination, high unemployment and offers of second chances are important measures for all disadvantaged youngsters.

See IBLF's 10 practical actions to combat youth disaffection and extremism

What is IBLF doing to help?

Youth Business International is an international network of programmes helping disadvantaged young people to become entrepreneurs by providing business mentoring and funds. In the Middle East, YBI has set up pilot programmes in Israel, Saudi Arabi and Syria.

IBLF's Youth Career Initiative uses the resources of the hotel industry to provide young people in developing countries with valuable life and vocational skills. The programme increases young people's confidence and skills so that they can embark on their career of choice.

Specific IBLF initiatives in the Middle East include

Business and Youth in the Arab World - a project to demonstrate how business can tackle youth unemployment. The project comprises the publication of a resource guide, followed by a marketing campaign, workshops and training sessions.

Lebanon Education Week, February 2006 - a week-long session of workshops and discussions promoting greater links between business and education in Lebanon.

Main picture: Sixteen year old Dutch-Turkish teenager Hakan Dinc and his friends wait for a bus in the east of the city. Hakan was born in the Netherlands but says he feels more Turkish than Dutch. Copyright PANOS/Justin Jin