What does it take to sustain job creation? Lessons from five countries Jiwon LeeRafaela Martinho HenriquesKersten Stamm August 11, 2026 This page in: English

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/developmenttalk/what-does-it-take-to-sustain-job-creation--lessons-from-five-cou Emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) face a jobs challenge of historic proportions. Between 2025 and 2035, around 1.2 billion young people in these economies are expected to reach working age, the largest youth cohort the world will likely ever see, according to a new World Bank Group study. In Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa, the coming wave of young people will be the largest these regions have seen to date. Creating sufficient job opportunities for these young women and men is therefore an urgent development policy priority.