The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released in Beirut yesterday its annual report on Arab Human Resources for 2009.
A survey of a sample representing 65% of the population indicates that the average level of poverty was the lowest in Lebanon and Syria with a rate of 28.6-30 percent, the highest in Yemen at 59.9 percent, and 41 percent in Egypt.
Based on the survey, the report estimates that 65 million people live at the poverty line.
In 2005, unemployment was estimated at 14.4% in the Arab countries, compared with 6.3 percent globally. Unemployment among youth represents the biggest social challenge.
According to these data, the Arab countries will need to create 51 million new jobs by 2020. Unemployment among females is higher than among males, and it is the highest in the world.
The report called on the Arab countries to restructure their education system to close the skills gap.
The report suggests that the fabulous oil wealth in Arab countries gives a misleading picture about the economic situation in these countries because it conceals the structural difficulties among Arab economies.
Source: Al-Rafidayn, Baghdad, July 22, 2009
