Citation
(2007), "The young are the future", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 56 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm.2007.07956bab.007
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
The young are the future
Citing Bangladesh as an example of a country that has made great strides to educate its young women and to significantly reduce child pregnancy, the World Bank suggested recently that: “Developing countries which invest in better education, healthcare, and job training for their record numbers of young people between 12 and 24 years of age could produce surging economic growth and sharply reduced poverty”.
With 1.3 billion young people now living in the developing world – the largest-ever youth group in history – the report said there has never been a better time to invest in youth because they are healthier and better educated than previous generations. And they will join the workforce with fewer dependents because of changing demographics.
However, it cautioned that failure to seize this opportunity to train them more effectively for the workplace, and to be active citizens, could lead to widespread disillusionment and social tensions.