Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer at the World Bank Group, has urged Ghana and other developing countries to take urgent and decisive action to address the growing number of young people expected to enter the labour market in the coming years.
He warned that many low- and middle-income countries are approaching a major employment challenge, as millions of young people prepare to join the workforce without the skills required to secure meaningful and sustainable jobs.
Mr Donohoe stressed that without sustained investment in education, training and skills development, a significant portion of this emerging workforce could face limited employment opportunities—posing risks to economic growth and social stability.
He therefore called on governments, policymakers and educational institutions to prioritise reforms that equip young people with practical, job-ready skills aligned with the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.
Speaking during an engagement with students at the University of Ghana, he highlighted the scale of the challenge, pointing to persistent gaps in foundational learning across developing nations.
“Across low- and middle-income countries today, seven in 10 ten-year-olds cannot read a simple, age-appropriate text. More than three billion adults have less than lower secondary education, and in the next decade alone, 1.2 billion young people will enter labour markets in developing countries, most without the skills. These are not just numbers; they are lives,” he said.
The interaction formed part of a broader visit focused on engaging young people on global economic trends, education and the future of work.
Mr Donohoe noted that Ghana’s challenges mirror a wider global pattern, underscoring the need for coordinated, forward-looking policy responses across developing economies.
