Youth without opportunity
Pakistan has a large youth population, with 46.3 million people aged 15 to 24, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Labour Force Survey 2024-25. The age group accounts for 18.5% of the country’s total population and 25.8% of its working-age population. This large pool of young people can be one of Pakistan’s greatest strengths. Young people bring energy, creativity, ambition and new…
Pakistan is home to 46.3 million young people aged 15 to 24, making up 18.5% of the country's total population. This vast youth population has the potential to drive economic growth through entrepreneurship, innovation and labor. However, the majority of these young people face significant challenges in finding decent work and securing stable employment.
The unemployment rate in Pakistan rose to 7.1% in 2024-25, while the labor force participation rate stood at 46.3%. Most concerning is the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training, with 28.4% of the youth population falling into this category in 2024-25. This NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rate is particularly high among young women, with 45.4% classified as NEET, compared to 13% of young men.
Despite completing education, many young Pakistanis find themselves without jobs, forced into low-paying informal work, or unable to secure positions related to their skills and education. The gap between the skills universities teach and the needs of the job market exacerbates the problem. To turn its youth population into an economic asset, Pakistan must create jobs and enhance the skills of its young people.
Written by urgent.news from Business Recorder's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
