The challenge of youth employment in Asia: Lessons from four fast‐growing economies

Abstract The situation of youth in relation to the labour market is a matter of serious concern for many governments, and an issue of increasing focus in international policy discussions. This paper draws on comparable school to work transition survey data to examine the nature of youth employment in four important and generally successful Asian economies that are relatively engaged in international trade, though to varying extents: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal and Vietnam. In all four, many young people continue to be engaged in self‐employment or unpaid family work; while in some cases, this may reflect the lack of opportunities for wage work in the formal sector, often such outcomes may be positive choices on the part of the young people. The availability of formal jobs for young people varies across the four countries, with the extent and diversity of industrialisation or exports being one important factor, as well as the level of education. In Vietnam, the country most advanced in these areas, the availability of formal jobs is significantly greater than in the other countries and is large on an international scale, while in Bangladesh and Cambodia, the textiles and garment sectors have played an important role in creating formal work opportunities, especially for females.