I read an article in Wall Street Journal about Pope Francis visiting Brazil and addressing youth unemployment. Pope called upon leaders to serve the poor and it is certainly true for any form of leadership. Recently, the International Labor Organization (ILO) published a damning report on global youth unemployment earlier this year, highlighting that in the global labor market 75 million youth are unemployed.

It just concerns me that with increased globalisation, and manufacturing in the West being broadly shut down by the cheap labour available in the East, we are never going to find jobs for the large proportion of people who graduate from schools (and even universities!!) without an education that is in practical demand.

The days are long gone where the factories, fields, mills and mines gave an opportunity to earn a living and support a family. So where in the West, are we going to find opportunities for unskilled workers to get them out of a government dependent culture? Growing up in an area where your parents don’t have jobs and you have no prospect of getting one, breeds resentment and discontent. It’s a huge problem for society. Personal dignity, respect for self and others and healthy emotional state of mind comes from working and earning your living. Our leaders are breading a generation that hasn’t held a job and with little prospects of finding one.

If nothing changes, we are not far from global revolution or even World War III. And perhaps global protest, strikes and riots that we currently see in the Middle East, Brazil and other countries is the beginning. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree?

Link to an article:

“Pope Francis Warns of Perils of Global Unemployment”, Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323829104578621553723314048.html