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Investing in youth “smartest investment”

Investing in youth “smartest investment”

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Never before have there been so many young people on the planet: nearly two billion, according to the United Nations.

But while young people represent one-quarter of the working age population, worldwide they make up 40 per cent of the unemployed.

On the first commemoration of World Youth Skills Day on 15 July, the UN is underscoring the value of helping young people upgrade their abilities to contribute to the global common future.

UN Youth Envoy Ahmad Alhendawi is at the financing for development conference underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He told Elizabeth Philip why equipping young people with work skills is critical if they are to enjoy what he calls  “permanent residence” in the job market.

Duration: 2’28”

Photo Credit
Dana Smillie/World Bank