Amidst global economic challenges and systemic flaws, it is imperative for governments to craft inclusive employment strategies, while young individuals must take charge of their own destinies to build a brighter, sustainable future
Syed Mustafa Ahmad
I write these words with a heavy heart, for the anguish of millions of unemployed young people has become my own. Youths waiting for government jobs have been reduced to a state of insignificance. The very hopes that made life seem beautiful and sustainable have been strangled.
Many may dismiss my views, but true revolution through words occurs when conscious, mature individuals step forward to guide the youth. Readers may disagree, citing valid reasons for unemployment: the youth’s aversion to the private sector, a preference for comfortable lives, theoretical education over practical skills, lack of exposure, and unfamiliarity with contemporary complexities. While these factors are undeniable, a comprehensive analysis reveals a clearer truth: providing employment is fundamentally the government’s primary responsibility.
The term “government” carries such depth that volumes of text would fail to fully capture it. The government’s role is to design systems that generate employment. It must utilise resources fully, consult experts, and make effective use of scarce assets. Investment is needed in labour-intensive, capital-intensive, and high-yielding sectors. Instead, the entire blame is placed on the youth, labelled as incapable of standing on their own feet. When a nation’s various sectors work at cross-purposes, it is natural for the hopes of the young to be dashed.
A country’s development is best measured by its education system. Our system itself dashes the aspirations of the young. When education trains one to be a crow, dreams of becoming a falcon remain unfulfilled. A robust system prepares youth for both the present and the future. Outdated, rote-based education is irrelevant in today’s fast-paced world. In the age of Artificial Intelligence, such knowledge is useless. Our curriculum designers rightly emphasise cultural roots, but rigid adherence to this alone has produced toxic consequences. Young people are falling headfirst into the deep chasm of unemployment. When the education system fails to meet life’s necessities, what is the benefit of wasting precious years?
My question to the government is this: if there are no jobs, what is the outcome of millions of students enrolling in educational institutions every year? This is a primary reason for the fertile ground of unemployment. Furthermore, the global order fuels this crisis. The economic system crafted by global powers, from Bretton Woods to the WTO and IMF, has sucked the lifeblood from vulnerable nations. The profit-driven dogma of the market economy dehumanises individuals. While this obsession has long captivated capitalists, we have now become so accustomed to this madness that relationships, religion, honour, and politics are all sacrificed at the altar of the ‘Invisible Hand’. John Perkins’ book, “Confessions of an Economic Hitman,” illustrates how economic institutions manipulate global economies. One may disagree with the author, but it’s undeniable that large corporations act as both regulators and predators, disrupting conditions worldwide—youth unemployment being one example.
Beyond these two reasons, government policies also crush the youth. Cleaner politics lead to cleaner decisions. A major flaw in democracy is that it counts heads rather than gauging maturity, making it hard to distinguish the pure from the corrupt. This leads to situations where those running institutions engage in practices that grind capable, hardworking youth into dust. A leader who ascends to power based on uneducated votes can hardly be expected to steer the nation from crisis.
The world is rapidly advancing towards automation. It is imperative to think seriously about the future of youth at both global and national levels, acknowledging their humanity and overlooking their flaws. We must take comprehensive and sustainable measures to curb deadly evils like drug abuse, theft, online fraud, psychological diseases, family breakdown, disrespect for elders, and mental health issues. This will allow us to harness the immense potential of the young.
In developed nations, youth unemployment is also a major concern. Perhaps these countries could form a dedicated bloc to better utilise resources based on mutual needs. Without necessarily opposing the existing global system, a solid parallel institution could be established, committed to youth welfare.
Simultaneously, the youth must bring about necessary changes within themselves. Waiting for a saviour is a foolish delusion. They must determine their own paths, understand the nuances of the times, and work hard to create opportunities. More than half of the youth have become a burden on society, with their primary activities revolving around basic comforts and idle pastimes. How long can this burden be carried? The shoulders of the bruised youth are giving way.
We must collectively create an environment that rejuvenates them. I pray to Allah to have mercy on our youth, to endow them with wisdom and patience. Most crucially, young people must keenly observe changes at global and national levels and understand how things are created and transformed. I remain hopeful that our youth will have a bright future.
sy************@***il.com