Education and the transition to work

Arab societies perform below the world average on educational attainment, achievement and equitable access. Once young people in the Arab region try to get work, they find that the main, traditional avenue to secure employment, the government, has been closed. Finding stable and satisfying employment is one of the most prominent challenges facing youth. Arab economies are not providing enough private sector jobs owing to poor policy stability, which hampers private investment, alongside red tape, a failure to build a manufacturing base, little access to credit (outside a favoured circle), and, in the formal sector, tight labour regulations. Women are especially hard hit in multiple areas. The policy prescriptions are fairly standard, which makes it all the more difficult to understand why governments have shown little interest in solving the problem over the last couple of decades. They include investing more in infrastructure and improving the business environment. Labour market programmes and micro-finance are less practical approaches.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Good Health and Well-Being

Quality Education

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions