According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), there is an estimated 152 million young people who work but remain in extreme poverty. Youth in lower income countries are more vulnerable to suffer the impact of the unemployment crisis, where there is less social protection to provide for basic needs. The high rates of underemployment and unemployment could potentially result in a progressive loss of workers’ skills, exclusion of the unemployed from the productive economy, separated families due to searches for work, loss of hope of making a decent honest living, decreased social cohesion, and ultimately, dangers to national peace and stability.
By the end of 2009, the number of economically active unemployed youth ages 15 to 24 had reached 81 million—the highest number ever. It is projected that the global youth unemployment rate will increase to 13.1 percent by the end of 2010. In order to break the cycle of poverty and the effects of the declining economy, the ILO suggests discussions on easing the burden of joblessness and policies and strategies that will promote sustainable growth and development. Let us pray that God would move in this area of need for global youth and that He would use YouthHOPE in the way that He desires.
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