Global poverty and employment

facts & stats About World Poverty and Employment

Even under the best circumstances, no one likes job hunting — networking, résumé polishing and interview prep. For those living in poverty, the skills required to find employment can seem so overwhelming, their job search never begins and the cycle of poverty never ends. A lack of employment in these communities leads to an increase in gang affiliation, drugs, violence and early pregnancy. Your sponsorship or gift creates lasting change by providing access to life-changing career-readiness workshops that teach youth crucial skills needed to prepare for the workforce and to find and secure employment.

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Global poverty and employment at a glance

  • Roughly 40% of male youths (ages 15-24) currently work in the global labor force, while just 27% of young women are employed.
  • According to the latest data, the total number of unemployed youth is 73 million – a slight recovery from the dip that occurred during the pandemic.
  • More than one in five young people are not employed, in school or training for work in the formal job sector.
  • Although the gender gap in global primary and secondary school enrollment rates has almost entirely closed (90% for males/89% for females), secondary school completion rates are 8% lower for girls than boys.
  • The cost of NOT investing in girls’ education is astronomical: A recent World Bank study estimates that limited educational opportunities for girls costs countries between US$15 trillion and $30 trillion in lost lifetime earnings.

Does 15 seem too young to have
a full–time job?

In many impoverished countries, youth drop out of school and enter the workforce, taking physically demanding jobs for little pay to help contribute at home.

a man working on a motorcycle in a garage

TERMS TO KNOW: “INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT”?
Informal employment defines jobs, like day laborers, that aren't regulated, taxed or protected. Workers may face dangerous conditions, discrimination and unpaid wages if they choose to take on this type of employment. In Guatemala and Honduras, up to 80% of working youth (age 15–24) are informally employed and choose to do so out of necessity to help provide for their families.

a group of people in a kitchen preparing food

Ready-Set-Grow

Our programs prepare youth to take on in-demand jobs in their communities. Workshops and programs teach our youth how to search for a job, networking skills, résumé building and interview prep tips.

Learn more about Employment

Sources

  • World Bank Employment Policy Primer, 2010
  • UN WESO, 2015
  • UN FAO, 2014
  • World Bank eLibrary. “Returns on Investments in Education,” 2002
  • UNESCO: EFA Global Monitoring Report, Youth and skills: Putting Education to Work, 2012

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