Adolescence

Poverty, unemploymentand globalizationAdolescents are often seen as the next generation of actorson the social and economic stage. While it is true that thefuture economic development of nations depends on harnessingtheir energy and developing their skills, this viewdoes not take account of the social and economic contributionthat many adolescents and young people make today.It also fails to acknowledge that many young people arestruggling to find adequate employment that can providethem with a safe foothold above the poverty line – and thattheir prospects of attaining such security have worsenedamid the global economic malaise that has taken hold since2007. Most young people in general are in a better positionto take advantage of global development than any previousgeneration, due in part to improved levels of education andbetter health. However, many of them remain excludedfrom the opportunities afforded by globalization.Lack of appropriate skills and a dearth of workopportunities are denying adolescents and youth afuture of stable, productive workAdolescence is a time when poverty and inequity passto the next generation. This is particularly true amongadolescents with low levels of education. Almost half ofthe world’s adolescents of appropriate age do not attendsecondary school. And when they do attend, many of themfail to complete their studies or finish with insufficient skills– especially those high-level competencies that are increasinglyrequired by the modern globalized economy.This skills deficit is contributing to bleak youth economicemployment trends. In August 2010, the InternationalLabour Organization released the latest edition of GlobalEmployment Trends for Youth, whose central theme wasthe impact of the global economic crisis on youth aged15–24. In its introduction, the report summarized some keylong-term trends in youth participation in the labour forcebetween 1998 and 2008. Youth unemployment is a significantconcern in almost every national economy. Prior to thecrisis, youth unemployment rates were falling and stood atjust over 12 per cent in 2008. At the same time, the youthpopulation has grown at a faster pace than the availableemployment opportunities.In 2008, youth were almost three times as likely to beunemployed as adults, and suffered disproportionatelyfrom a deficit of decent work. This is unfortunate not leastbecause decent work can provide adolescent girls and boyswith opportunities to develop and apply skills, responsibilitiesand resources that will be useful throughout their lives.Figure 3.1: Word cloud illustrating key internationalyouth forums on climate changeAFRICAN YOUTH INITIATIVE FOR CLIMATE CHANGEINTERGENERATIONAL INQUIRY SIDE EVENTS AT COP SESSIONSYOUTH PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL FORUMSSource: Derived from United Nations,Growing Together in a ChangingClimate: The United Nations, youngpeople and climate change, UN, 2009.PROJECT SURVIVAL PACIFICEUROPEAN YOUTH FORUMUNICEF’S CLIMATE AMBASSADOR PROGRAMINDIAN YOUTH CLIMATE NETWORKYOUNGO CONSTITUENCY AT THE UNFCCCUNEP/TUNZAINTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF LA FRANCOPHOINECHINA YOUTH CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION NETWORKENERGY ACTION COALITIONYOUTH AT THE COMMISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTGLobal challenges for adolescents 45