The issue of youth unemployment has been around for decades, but in recent years, it feels like it’s taken on a new level of urgency. Everywhere you look—whether it’s in developed countries with strong economies or in developing nations trying to grow—young people are struggling to find jobs that match their skills, education, or even their hopes. What makes this problem particularly worrying is that it doesn’t just affect individual lives; it shapes entire generations’ outlooks on stability, ambition, and trust in the system.

One reason youth unemployment has grown so widespread is the mismatch between education and the job market. Schools and universities often emphasize theory, while employers look for experience. You can have a degree, sometimes even an advanced one, but still not qualify for a job because you’ve never “done it” in the real world. That’s a frustrating paradox—how are you supposed to gain experience if nobody hires you in the first place? In some places, this has led to what people call “over-education but underemployment,” where graduates end up working in positions far below their skill level or outside their field entirely.

Technology has also made things more complicated. On one hand, it’s opened up new industries—think of app development, e-commerce, or digital marketing—that didn’t exist twenty years ago. But it’s also made some traditional jobs obsolete. Automation and artificial intelligence are replacing tasks that used to be done by entry-level workers. Companies can run with fewer employees, and that usually means young people, who are just entering the workforce, have fewer spots available. The result is a strange contradiction: there are more career options than ever before, yet finding a good one feels harder than ever.

Economic uncertainty plays another big part. Events like the COVID-19 pandemic have thrown entire job markets off balance. Industries such as tourism, hospitality, and retail—where young people often find their first jobs—were hit the hardest. Even as economies reopen, companies are cautious about hiring. They want to cut costs and avoid taking risks, and that means fewer opportunities for recent graduates. In countries with weak social safety nets, this can push young people into unstable or informal jobs, gig work, or even unemployment that lasts years.

But beyond the numbers and statistics, youth unemployment takes a toll on people’s sense of purpose. It can feel deeply personal. For many young adults, work isn’t just a paycheck—it’s about independence, identity, and belonging. When that’s missing, it can lead to anxiety, frustration, or even social unrest. Some young people respond by moving abroad, chasing opportunities in other countries; others try to create their own, starting small businesses or freelancing online. In that sense, this generation is also incredibly resourceful and adaptable, finding new paths even when the old ones are blocked.

There’s no single fix to this problem, but a few ideas could help. Schools could partner more closely with industries to offer practical experience early on—internships, apprenticeships, and hands-on projects. Governments could invest in green jobs, creative industries, and tech training to match the future economy. And maybe, as a society, we need to rethink what “success” looks like for young people—not just a 9-to-5 job, but meaningful work that allows them to grow, contribute, and live with dignity.

Youth unemployment might be a global issue, but it’s also a personal one that affects millions of individual stories. The challenge for our generation isn’t just finding jobs—it’s redefining what work means in a world that’s changing faster than ever.

Andrew Ohn