Timor – Leste National Youth Employment Action Plan (NYEAP) 2009
The social gains of involving young Timorese in productive and decent employment would also have immense welfare benefits for the country, primarily by keeping youth away from indulging in violent activities. The 2006 ILO Report on Global Employment Trends for Youth employment states “idle youths create a sense of vulnerability, uselessness and redundancy.” This can have a direct impact on the potential for violence and crime, thereby destabilizing socio stability.
Referring to national statistics, the population demographics for Timor-Leste illustrates a population pyramid that is not only expansive in profile(almost 48 per cent of the population is below the age of 17, population growth rate is around 5.8 per cent and fertility rate is estimated at 7.8 births per woman) but also characteristic of a ‘youth bulge’, where the cohort of 15-29 year olds account for almost 30 per cent of the total population.
These facts indicate that the main asset of Timor-Leste is its young people. Hence, responding to the employment challenges of young women and men in Timor-Leste presents an unprecedented opportunity for increasing economic growth and reducing poverty in the country. The logic is self-evident - since young people are the main asset of the nation, making them more productive and engaging them in decent work is the best way to reduce poverty.
These facts indicate that the main asset of Timor-Leste is its young people. Hence, responding to the employment challenges of young women and men in Timor-Leste presents an unprecedented opportunity for increasing economic growth and reducing poverty in the country. The logic is self-evident - since young people are the main asset of the nation, making them more productive and engaging them in decent work is the best way to reduce poverty.