An article today titled ‘Youth unemployment fans social ills of crime, unrest and extremism’ says that “While all forms of unemployment are bad, youth unemployment is probably the most searing because of its corrosive effects throughout society” as (presumably among other things) unemployment adds to the risk of drug abuse, criminality and, ultimately, incarceration.  The article quotes youth (ages 15 – 24) current unemployment statistics in Britain (16.5%), France (20.4%). Qatar and Saudi Arabia (each almost 25%).

Some months ago I wrote a blog on this issue.  As I have said in other posts I believe ‘old sayings are old sayings because they have stood the test of time’.  One old saying is ‘idle hands are the devil’s workshop’, and I think that is particularly true in the case of young  people whose value system and living habits are ‘a work in progress’.  The young people who in the recent past have rioted in Paris may be a precursor for what may happen in other cities and towns if there is not productive work available for them.  In the current economic environment I consider this worrisome – and think youth employment should be an extremely high priority with the governments of all countries.

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