World Bank Warns of Rising Youth Job Crisis Across Asia

BANGKOK – Young people across Asia are struggling to find decent jobs, with many trapped in low-productivity work, the World Bank warned in its Oct 7 regional update. The report noted that one in seven young people in China and Indonesia are unemployed, and many more are in informal or low-wage sectors.

Youth Job Crisis

The growing frustration has contributed to a global surge of youth-led protests, from Indonesia and the Philippines to Kenya and Mongolia. The Bank cautioned that the share of people vulnerable to falling into poverty now exceeds the middle class in most Asian nations. It also highlighted that job growth has shifted from manufacturing to low-wage services, eroding previous poverty reduction gains. Meanwhile, new and small firms—vital for job creation—are declining, limiting opportunities for youth employment and sustainable growth.

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