Providing job opportunities

His Majesty King Abdullah visited the Jordan-Korea Technology Institute on Labour Day and called for creating job opportunities for the youth.

The youth and women form the groups that suffer most when unemployment is on the rise.

Worldwide, unemployment among the youth is the most acute dimension of joblessness and, as such, deserves the attention of both politicians, and of the public and private sectors.

Unemployment among the youth afflicts both men and women. But because in many parts of the world the man, traditionally, is considered the abler breadwinner, women get short shrift, often being the first to be fired and last to be hired.

Women, who habitually budget households’ incomes, suffer more when there is an economic crisis as unemployment and poverty become widespread.

Jordan’s National Strategy for Employment will give, it is therefore hoped, youth and women the highest priority possible when it comes to unemployment.

Of course, this is easier said than done, but a sound economic base and proper economy planning can help create more job opportunities, thus take care of for these two groups as well.

The national strategy should make sure that employment opportunities improve and that productivity increases to reflect upon the entire society.

Creating labour intensive industries is one way to combat unemployment among youth and women.

The International Labour Organisation has long called for creating work opportunities, considering this a high priority for all countries, but especially for developing nations.

An idle mind is a dangerous thing. Idle youth could feel useless, a burden, neglected. They could be easier recruited by individuals with no scruples and pushed into doing illegal acts.

We have seen this phenomenon happen in some parts of the country.

There is, no doubt, broad consensus in the country that fighting crime in all its forms is a high priority. Providing the young with jobs could be one way to combat crime.