Page 18 - A Handbook for Academia, Industry and Policymakers: Reinforcing the Innovation-Employability Nexus in the Mediterranean

18 REINFORCING THE INNOVATION-EMPLOYABILITY NEXUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REINFORCING THE INNOVATION-EMPLOYABILITY NEXUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 19

A Wicked Problem: Unemployment

of Highly Qualified Graduates Individuals with advanced education in North Africa experience higher levels of unemployment than those with basic
education — this is the opposite of what Europe and North America see
1
Figure 2

Unemployment for Advanced Education vs Basic Education
%
30
ven though there are substantial differences in political, social,
and economic conditions across the Mediterranean region, it 25

E is safe to say that the un- and underemployment of university
graduates has been a major challenge. Despite numerous initiatives, 20
youth unemployment in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean 15
has been among the highest in the world for more than two decades.

And unlike other regions, unemployment is highest amongst those 10
with tertiary education reaching an average of 30% across the 5
region. Moreover, there is a strong gender dimension. While young
women have made remarkable progress in educational attainment, 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 year

unemployment rates among young women in the region are almost Advanced Education North Africa Basic Education North Africa
double those of young men.
% Unemployment for Advanced Education vs Basic Education

30

25
Despite numerous initiatives over the past twenty to renew the call to action: policymakers,
years, youth unemployment has been persistent industry, academia and civil society need
in many areas of the region, including in the to collaborate and redouble their efforts to 20
Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, where address the challenge, despite the previous
some rates are particularly high. This is especially lack of success in improving youth employment 15
pronounced when it comes to highly qualified outcomes in the region. Addressing the long-term
university graduates and young researchers. structural impediments to regional job creation 10
Instead of higher levels of employment as in is an immense challenge charged with political,
Europe and North America, individuals with economic, and social considerations that limit the 5
advanced education in North Africa experience effectiveness of any single course of action. There
the opposite as shown in Figure 2, In fact, is thus a need to address these impediments in 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 year
1
the youth un- and underemployment in the industry, improve regulatory environments to
region has the characteristics of a so-called unlock job creation potential, and incentivise Advanced Ed EU Basic Ed EU Advanced Ed North America Basic Ed North America
‘wicked problem’ . Wicked problems are socially academia to optimally prepare graduates for
3
complex, have many interdependencies and the job market and unlock innovation potential 1
multiple causes that have no single solution, and through increased collaboration with industry. Source: World Development Indicators. The World Bank: Databank
are perceived by different stakeholders through To do this, it is essential to improve coordination
contrasting views. among stakeholders, divide the problem into
smaller pieces and focus on small wins that show
The numerous initiatives and activities to date concrete, small-scale, in-depth, and positive
have not been able to produce the desired changes that can lead to transformative change.
positive impact. That is why it is important