WEF 2019 summit: Emerging markets have 20% youths without job, education or training, says IMF chief Christine Lagarde

Davos: An average of 20 percent young people in emerging markets neither have access to education, nor a job or training, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said Wednesday. Speaking at a session on ‘Finding future jobs’ at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos, she also cited the example of India to drive home a point that a huge rush for job openings at railways showed that a big pool of talent is available at some places. “In emerging countries, we find 20 percent of young people neither have access to education nor employment nor training. Besides, 18 percent are unemployed,” she said citing data. [caption id=“attachment_3440560” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] IMF chief Christine Lagarde. File photo: AFP[/caption] “Indian Railways announced 60,000 jobs and 20 million applied. That gives an idea of the magnitude of the pool of talent that is available. “It doesn’t mean all of them would have been unemployed as there might be people looking for a change or better job opportunities. And we are not talking about a country that is growing very slow, as India is a country that is expected to grow at 7.5 percent, so we are talking about a champion in the developing world,” Lagarde said. Also, she said the whole issue of finding future jobs affects women more than men. At the same session, International Labour Organisation Director-General Guy Ryder said human beings need to be put back at the centre of policymaking. Besides, there is a need to invest in institutions and it needs to be ensured that nobody is at a disadvantage, he said. We also need to invest in areas that have strong job creation potential for future, including in green economy, Ryder added.     To keep watching India’s No. 1 English Business News Channel – CNBC-TV18, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family Pack (inclusive of 24 channels), available for Rs. 35/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 4/- per day. To keep watching the Leader in Global Market & Business News – CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, call your Cable or DTH Operator and ask for the Colors Family HD Pack (inclusive of 25 channels), available for Rs. 50/- per month, or subscribe to the channel for Rs. 1/- per day.