Arab States and North Africa Struggle with Highest Youth Unemployment Globally

Global Youth Unemployment Rates in 2023

The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that youth unemployment reached its lowest level in the past 15 years in 2023, at 13%. This was a significant recovery from the high rates experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these unemployment rates varied significantly by geographical region. The data, provided by Kayla Zhu from Visual Capitalist, visualizes youth unemployment rates by global region in 2023. For this data, youth are classified as individuals aged between 15 and 24.

Regional Differences in Youth Unemployment

The ILO's 2024 Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024 report provides a detailed breakdown of youth unemployment rates by region in 2023. The Arab States, which include countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Yemen, among others, had the highest youth unemployment rate globally at 28.6%. Northern Africa, comprising countries like Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco, followed closely with a rate of 22.5%.

Youth Unemployment in the MENA Region

The Brookings Institution highlights that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has had the highest youth unemployment rates globally for over 25 years. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 30% of youth in the MENA region were neither in education, employment, nor training, as per the ILO. Experts suggest that the combination of low infant mortality rates and high fertility rates, resulting in high labor force growth rates from 1970 onwards, could be a major contributing factor to the high youth unemployment rates in this region.

Contrasting Youth Unemployment Rates in Northern America

In contrast to the Arab States and Northern Africa, Northern America recorded the lowest youth unemployment rate in 2023, at just 8.3%. The United States saw a significant decrease in the youth unemployment rate last year, with young workers experiencing the lowest unemployment rate in 70 years at 7.5% in March of 2023. However, in the first half of 2024, both the United States and Canada have seen increases in youth unemployment rates.

Additional Resources on Youth Employment

For further information on youth employment, a graphic is available that displays employment rates for U.S. college and high school students since 1993.

Bottom Line

The global landscape of youth unemployment is diverse, with some regions experiencing significantly higher rates than others. The Arab States and Northern Africa have the highest youth unemployment rates, while Northern America has the lowest. Various factors contribute to these disparities, including demographic trends, economic conditions, and educational opportunities. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think more can be done to address youth unemployment globally? Share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, available every day at 6pm.