- Myanmar’s youth face severe education and employment challenges, with political instability and economic contraction leaving millions 'on hold', especially in rural areas.
- High unemployment and informal work prevail, with one in four youth unemployed, rising above 50% in Kayah and 40% in Rakhine; most engaged youth work in informal sectors.
- UNDP urges targeted interventions, promoting flexible learning, vocational training, youth entrepreneurship, and gender-sensitive policies to unlock the potential of Myanmar’s young population.
A new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) underscores the dire situation facing Myanmar’s youth, who constitute more than one-third of the country’s population. The findings reveal that ongoing political instability, economic contraction, and social disruption have severely disrupted pathways to education and employment, leaving millions of young people 'on hold' and unable to realize their potential.
Even those with higher education qualifications face significant challenges in securing meaningful employment, with young women particularly affected, highlighting a widening gap between academic achievement and available job opportunities. Titled A Generation on Hold: Youth Employment and Education in Myanmar, the report draws on the nationally representative Myanmar Youth Survey 2024, supplemented by interviews and focus group discussions.
It is the second in a UNDP Asia-Pacific series examining the long-term effects of conflict on young people in Myanmar. The report emphasizes the disproportionate disadvantage faced by rural youth, who have lower access to formal education and employment compared with their urban peers, exacerbating regional inequalities.
Also Read: First day of World Education Summit Dubai ends with Collaborative Endeavours
The analysis points to alarming levels of exclusion from work, with one in four young people unemployed, reaching over 50 percent in regions like Kayah and 40 percent in Rakhine. Many employed youth are confined to informal sectors, such as casual labor or own-account farming, leaving them vulnerable to income shocks. Education and training participation is also deeply affected, with three in four youth aged 18 to 24 no longer engaged in learning, a figure rising to four in five in rural areas.
Gendered disparities are stark, as young women are more likely to leave school due to household responsibilities, earn less than their male peers, and in some regions, face restrictions from spouses that prevent them from seeking work. Despite these challenges, the report highlights the resilience and ambitions of Myanmar’s youth. Many identify technical education and vocational training as a priority and are engaged in small-scale entrepreneurial activities, often driven by necessity.
UNDP calls for immediate, locally driven interventions to expand flexible learning opportunities, vocational training, and youth-led entrepreneurship, particularly in rural, displaced, and conflict-affected areas. Addressing barriers to young women’s education and employment, reducing caregiving burdens, and aligning skills development with opportunities in agriculture, digital, and green sectors are crucial. Investing in Myanmar’s youth, UNDP stresses, is not only essential for economic recovery but also for safeguarding the future aspirations and capabilities of an entire generation.
