The
total population of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is close to
400 million. Of those, more than 50% are under the age of 25. And a very good
number of these young people have no jobs. In Saudi Arabia, for instance, the
youth unemployment rate is about 28% and this figure is most likely grossly
underestimated. And Saudi Arabia is one of the best in the pack…
Furthermore,
during the last 15 years or so there has been a very rapid expansion of the
number of university graduates throughout the region. In many cases, the
university degrees they obtained have only very weak links with the market
needs. But the fact of the matter is that the economies of the region – in those
countries that still have a working economy – are not able to respond to the
job demands.
There
is plenty of youth frustration. And this is now a frustration in urban settings
as MENA has one of the highest urbanization rates in the world. Frustration of
city dwellers leads to the most explosive type of rebellion.
Furthermore,
the population growth rate, which is around 2% per annum, is only second to the
one in Africa. The numbers are moving fast. They add additional complications
to a situation that is already particularly challenging.
Regional
leaders seem to be looking elsewhere. And we, in our part of the world, prefer
to focus on the symptoms. And not to engage in a meaningful dialogue with them.
