NO resource shapes a nation’s destiny more decisively than its youth.

More than minerals or markets strength, it is the energy, skills and aspirations of young people that determine whether a country rises or declines. Pakistan faces a demographic challenge, with the majority of its citizens under the age of 30. It can fuel growth, innovation and national confidence, but if mishandled, it can lead to unemployment, alienation and instability. Each year, many of Pakistan’s youth enter the job market. Is it easy for young people to find employment? Certainly not! According to World Bank/ILO models, the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15–24 was roughly 9.9% in 2024.

The crisis is truly evident in NEET rates, which represent young people not in Education, Employment or Training. According to the UN Women’s national assessment, 75% of young women (15–24) face significant hurdles like social obstacles, safety problems and caregiving duties, leading to a high NEET rate. The ILO says Pakistan’s employment recovery is still fragile following floods and the pandemic, demanding job creation on an urgent basis. Uncared-for, an angry youth population can push politics and public order into risky situations.

History offers the flip side. Rigorous investment in schooling, health and jobs helped East Asia turn a similar youth wave into a demographic dividend a generation ago. In “Demographic Transitions and Economic Miracles in Emerging Asia”, Bloom, Williamson and Harvard........

© Pakistan Observer