Staff Discussion Notes

Work In Progress : Improving Youth Labor Market Outcomes in Emerging Market and Developing Economies

Author/Editor:

JaeBin Ahn ; Zidong An ; John C Bluedorn ; Gabriele Ciminelli ; Zsoka Koczan ; Davide Malacrino ; Daniela Muhaj ; Patricia Neidlinger

Publication Date:

January 22, 2019

Electronic Access:

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Summary:

Economic development and growth depend on a country’s young people. With most of their working life ahead of them they make up about a third of the working-age population in the typical emerging market and developing economy. But the youth in these economies face a daunting labor market—about 20 percent of them are neither employed, in school, nor in training (the youth inactivity rate). This is double the share in the average advanced economy. Were nothing else to change, bringing youth inactivity in these economies down to what it is in advanced economies and getting those inactive young people into new jobs would have a striking effect. The working-age employment rate in the average emerging market and developing economy would rise more than 3 percentage points, and real output would get a 5 percent boost.

Series:

Staff Discussion Note 19/02

Subject:

Developing countries Emerging markets Fiscal reforms Labor market characteristics Labor market institutions Labor market policy Labor market reforms Labor market regulations Labor markets Population Product markets

Notes:

See Also: Technical Appendices