Page 35 - EN-Youth Report

Socio- economic factors

Among the young people surveyed, 50% said that unemployment is a major threat to their
economic situation, compared to the Arab Region's Human Development Index, which
determines the average unemployment rate in the Arab world at 29% in 2013. It should be
noted that agriculture (the main source of income for many in the areas) has been severely
affected in the region as well as the availability of seeds, high fuel prices for irrigation, repeated
targeting and burning of crops and challenges in the agricultural marketing network.

The influx of many IDPs from urban environments with no prior agricultural expertise and
the absence of state employment that used to be considered a source of safe income (although

these jobs were the result of practices of rentier state) have contributed to the increase of
unemployment rates.

Job opportunities, if available, are found within the informal sector, meaning that they do not
guarantee any social protection or insurance. This often means that these jobs have bad
working conditions with minimal wages. Nevertheless, the proportion of employment in the
informal sector in Syria between (2001 – 2007) was also high and formed 69% of the overall
jobs. 8% of the questioned youth stated that they have joined military groups as a potential
source of income. Without clear plans on how to improve youth livelihood programming in
Northwestern Syria, this trend might continue to increase .

The current conditions create lots of pressure on youth. Many families have lost their
households, and young children have found themselves taking care for their families,
sometimes for more than one family. Moreover, displaced families are having an additional
burden on their shoulders, which is the housing rental fees. In light of what was mentioned, we
can understand why 16% of the youth considered the external dynamics out of their will as the
main causes of social problems. If we add to these the widespread violence, the number rose
to 27%, plus 8% attributed the recruitment of armed factions as a factor that threatens social
stability.

A comparable percentage of 27% said that the lack of support for youth projects and initiatives

that could help them towards success in their professional, personal and social levels are to
blame for the current situation youth are finding themselves in. These initiatives are considered
very important for them to build their self-confidence. An important 20% Mostly young
women, mentioned that early marriage, a social tradition still prevailing in some areas, was
exacerbated by the deterioration of economic conditions to become a major cause of social
problems they faced, lead to further domestic violence against women, which had been
identified as a social problem by 6%.

35 | MAPPING YOUTH SITUATION IN NORTHWESTERN SYRIA