Want to grow? Get the youth on the high table

Young people’s economic vitality and ambition are powerful growth engines for every country. Youth unemployment in Kenya is a ticking time bomb. Today, unemployment stands at 40 per cent of the national population. 

The World Bank estimates that 800,000 Kenyans join the labour market each year, and only 50,000 succeed in getting professional jobs. Not surprisingly, the high level of unemployment has been blamed for escalating crime and insecurity.

The unemployment problem is global and presents a particularly difficult labour market experience for youth. In Africa especially, unemployment and underemployment continue to be major obstacles to the full utilization of human resources despite relatively strong growth in the region over the last decade.

There is a case for urgent enhancement of interventions that promote access to quality basic education for the youth for better labour market outcomes. This is because many youth are still stuck at low levels of educational achievement—and education appears to have a strong influence on an individual’s labour market activity. In addition, some policy interventions have had their shortcomings. A key lesson for the government and other stakeholders is the need to effectively diagnose the challenges, and also monitor and evaluate policy interventions to inform subsequent interventions.

About nine in 10 of the world’s young people live in the developing world. This could be either a golden opportunity for industrial catch-up and sustained growth, or a tremendous liability if young people are disenfranchised. Human capital investments and other social services provided to mothers and children in the developing world are critically important.

These policies could spell the difference between successful and productive young entrepreneurs and workers for years to come, or a large future cohort struggling with the challenges of high inequality and lack of sustainability. Amid tight public budgets and timid global growth, this bold investment in future generations must not be overlooked

Sub-Saharan Africa’s working-age population is going to skyrocket in the next few decades. The boom could yield a demographic dividend that translates into a major economic boost. But economists are already warning that policymakers need to act fast to ensure that members of this huge workforce will actually find jobs. Policies that empower young people, coupled with efforts to actively engage them in decisions that affect their lives and shape their future, can mean the difference between a demographic trend that weighs economies down and this include leadership positions.

Economies can become more inclusive by listening to youth, and by providing the necessary channels for young people to be connected and participate in community life. The expansion of information and communication technologies offers opportunities to promote inclusion and expand access to knowledge and participation of youth in public life. There is a universal desire on the part of youth for communication. Making it happen will foster opportunities, innovation, diversity, and economic inclusion.

The youth have not been supported by successive governments in Kenya. Youth have actually been marginalized and neglected; they’ve been put on the periphery. During campaigns, politicians promise heaven on earth to the youth. It is only then that they value young people; promising to take into consideration their concerns, but once they get into power, nothing happens.

In fact, the government and politicians are actually antagonising young people more, they’re pushing them to positions of desperation. It is time for youth in Africa to rise and stand against false and empty promises every year and vote in the right and true leaders who have the right agenda and manifesto to help improve the youth and the environment for doing business.

Finally, no country can remain prosperous and stable without investing in its youth. Kenya must realize that there can be no long-term security and development without opportunities for youth. There is an urgent need to tackle worsening unemployment among the youth as it threatens social cohesion, political stability, and economic growth.

In particular, the government must do more and join hands with civil society and the private sector to provide conditions where young entrepreneurs can prosper. For better development and improvement of the economy, youths must be number one priority in African.