Challenges:
Youth employment remains a pressing socioeconomic challenge across the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region, encompassing Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon. Young people in the region face high unemployment rates, limited access to decent work, and a growing mismatch between education outcomes and labor market needs.
Particularly concerning is the rising number of youth not in employment, education, or training (NEETs) – a group often excluded from economic participation and social inclusion. Women are disproportionately represented among NEETs, highlighting persistent gender disparities in access to opportunities.
Policymakers and development partners required reliable, evidence-based insights into the drivers of youth employment and inactivity to inform targeted interventions and support inclusive growth.
Solutions:
The European Training Foundation (ETF) commissioned Oxford Research Group, To-Excel Consulting and Arab African Advisers (AAA) to conduct the study in SEMED countries. AAA gathered and analyzed evidence and engaged stakeholders across Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Key activities of the project included:
Impact:
The study generated comprehensive and comparable data on the situation of young people across SEMED countries, offering a deeper understanding of the factors shaping youth employment outcomes and inactivity.
AAA’s contributions helped ensure that the analysis reflected national realities and regional diversity, with a strong gender perspective highlighting the specific barriers faced by young women.
The findings provided ETF and regional policymakers with actionable recommendations to strengthen skills development systems, improve labor market matching, and design more inclusive employment strategies for the region’s youth.
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