“We must give them tools so that they are not forced to emigrate”

In recent decades, access to education has improved considerably in Latin America. According to data from ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean), the enrollment rate in secondary education has exceeded 75% in most countries in the region.

This means that more young people have access to fundamental tools for their professional development. Furthermore, the increase in higher education has allowed young people to prepare to face the challenges of a globalized labor market.

At an economic level, the entrepreneurial ecosystem has found fertile ground among Latin American youth. Countries like Mexico, Chile, and Brazil have become technological hubs where young entrepreneurs lead innovative start-ups (start-ups). According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, in 2022, 18.5% of young people between 18 and 34 years old in Latin America were involved in some type of entrepreneurial activity. This suggests that, although youth unemployment is high, many are choosing to create their own opportunities with the aim of finding economic stability in a context that leaves little room for optimism.

“In the region we have seen that there have been many complexities, so young people are inherently afraid to get a decent job or housing,” admits Daniel Del Valle, president of the Youth Advisory Council of UN Habitat and former ambassador of the International Organization. of Youth at the United Nations, in statements to the Voice of America.

This young man, who has been involved for several years in various projects focused on young people in Latin America through organizations dependent on the United Nations, celebrates the numerous projects that have been carried out in the region to empower this segment of the population in order to give better guarantees for the future.

Through the UN Habitat organization, “programs more focused on the regions and that seek to get young people actively involved in how to improve our society from a local perspective” are being developed.

However, he admits that what is also sought is that the residents of these areas are not forced to migrate for economic or climatic reasons, the most common factors that contribute to migration.

“I believe that one of the best ways to reduce migration rates for these reasons is to give more opportunities to our young people and guarantee a decent future for the next generations,” Del Valle commented.

Despite these advances, young people face a labor market that is not always capable of absorbing the talent generated. The youth unemployment rate in Latin America is around 16%, more than double the general unemployment rate, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO). Informality is another problem that affects youth: it is estimated that 55% of young people work in informal jobs, which limits their long-term development opportunities and affects the stability of local economies.

Added to this is the growing inequality that affects young people from vulnerable sectors. Educational and employment opportunities are not distributed equitably, and in many rural or marginalized communities, young people lack access to quality education and decent employment opportunities. Poverty, which affects almost 30% of the young population in the region, aggravates this situation, limiting the potential of a significant part of the youth population.

The future of young people in Latin America, Del Valle clarifies, is deeply linked to the policies that governments implement in the coming years. Investment in education, especially in areas such as technology and sustainability, will be key for young people to compete in an increasingly demanding global labor market. Likewise, strengthening programs to support youth entrepreneurship could contribute to reducing the unemployment rate and generating new opportunities in emerging sectors.

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