Developing countries with large youth populations could see theireconomies soar if they invest in educating young people, protectingtheir rights and keeping them healthy, according to the 2014 WorldPopulation Report.
The UN Population Fund and the Centre forCentral Youth and Adolescents released the report on November 19, titled“The power of 1.8 billion: Adolescents, youth and the transformation ofthe future.”
Economies grow more when the country's working-agepopulation is larger than the dependent population, according to thereport. But to maximise growth, countries must ensure the young peopleapproaching working age are equipped to seize job opportunities.
“Vietnamhas entered a golden population period, recording the highestproportion of young people in the country's history," said Arthur Erken,the UN Population Fund's representative in Vietnam.
Young peoplebetween 10 and 20 made up nearly 40 percent of the population. Thiswindow of time where Vietnam had so many youth was a unique opportunityfor the country to ensure that people were educated and supported sothey could achieve their full potential, Erken said.
"We can't afford to let this period be wasted," he said.
Inorder to harness the booming young population, Vietnam needed policiesthat would improve its workforce's quality, he said. It should expandeducation and training programmes, and improve the business investmentenvironment to help generate sufficient jobs for young people enteringthe labour market, he said.
“Only when we aim high today we willmake that young person's future a brighter one, with rights and promisesfulfilled," said Le Quoc Phong, Secretary of the Vietnam Youth's Union.
TheGovernment, ministries and agencies should allow Vietnamese youth toparticipate more in designing and analysing the policies that affectthem to ensure they meet their needs, Phong said.
"Young peopleare the innovators, creators, builders and leaders of the future," saidBabatunde Osotimehim, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund. "Butthey can transform the future only if they have skills, health,decision-making and real choices in life."-VNA
The UN Population Fund and the Centre forCentral Youth and Adolescents released the report on November 19, titled“The power of 1.8 billion: Adolescents, youth and the transformation ofthe future.”
Economies grow more when the country's working-agepopulation is larger than the dependent population, according to thereport. But to maximise growth, countries must ensure the young peopleapproaching working age are equipped to seize job opportunities.
“Vietnamhas entered a golden population period, recording the highestproportion of young people in the country's history," said Arthur Erken,the UN Population Fund's representative in Vietnam.
Young peoplebetween 10 and 20 made up nearly 40 percent of the population. Thiswindow of time where Vietnam had so many youth was a unique opportunityfor the country to ensure that people were educated and supported sothey could achieve their full potential, Erken said.
"We can't afford to let this period be wasted," he said.
Inorder to harness the booming young population, Vietnam needed policiesthat would improve its workforce's quality, he said. It should expandeducation and training programmes, and improve the business investmentenvironment to help generate sufficient jobs for young people enteringthe labour market, he said.
“Only when we aim high today we willmake that young person's future a brighter one, with rights and promisesfulfilled," said Le Quoc Phong, Secretary of the Vietnam Youth's Union.
TheGovernment, ministries and agencies should allow Vietnamese youth toparticipate more in designing and analysing the policies that affectthem to ensure they meet their needs, Phong said.
"Young peopleare the innovators, creators, builders and leaders of the future," saidBabatunde Osotimehim, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund. "Butthey can transform the future only if they have skills, health,decision-making and real choices in life."-VNA
