Youth employment policy in Pacific island countries

Unemployed youth in Solomon Islands.
A shortage of comparative data on pacific labour markets and varying definitions of employment and unemployment make it difficult to analyse and compare labour market trends. However, it is clear that the pacific region suffers from significant unemployment and under-employment, particularly amongst the youth, who form a significant part of the population.

Youth unemployment in the Pacific is estimated at 23 per cent and the situation is particularly dire in countries such as the Republic of Marshall Islands, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands. The Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) requires action by governments to promote full employment. The ILO works with constituents in researching, developing and implementing programmes for, inter alia microfinance support, entrepreneurship training, local economic development, youth employment and climate change adaptation.