Conference highlights unemployment as major hurdle for young Arabs

AMMAN — Chronic unemployment is a major aftermath of the transformations taking place in the region, a challenge that requires intensified efforts by all stakeholders, young people agreed on Tuesday.

Taking part in a regional conference on employment, experts and young people from Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon highlighted their countries’ experiences in reducing unemployment and hurdles that prevent youth from joining the labour market.

The two-day conference is part of the EU-funded “Project of Strengthening Leadership of Youth and Women”, a three-year initiative implemented by the Princess Basma Youth Resource Centre (PBYRC) in cooperation with ACTED.

The project seeks to support employment centres to train young people on employability skills and connect them with job opportunities.

At the opening of the event, HRH Princess Basma said young people are not lacking in spirit, but need the opportunity.

Alaa Halayqa from Pyalara, an independent Palestinian institution that seeks to empower young people, stressed that wasta (using personal and family connections) is essential to obtain jobs in the Arab world, which is a major obstacle for the younger generation.

“Other challenges they face are related to their job preferences and the lack of skills the labour market needs,” he said.

Mario Goraieb, from the Lebanon-based Arcenciel Association, also highlighted difficulties facing young Lebanese when looking for jobs, especially with the influx of refugees and the political situation in the country.

Zaina Smadi, director of the PBYRC’s employment programme, noted that unemployment remains the primary challenge young Jordanians face.

“The centre has opened employment offices in five areas — Irbid, Sahab, Mafraq, Zarqa and recently Maan — to offer training that links job seekers with employers,” Smadi said, pointing out that the quality of education and the repetitive specialisations Jordanians enrol in reduce their chances of getting jobs.

The unemployment rate in Jordan stood at 13.8 per cent during the third quarter of this year, according to Department of Statistics figures.