Bad Economy: Yemeni Youth See Better Future Abroad

According to the last census conducted in 2005, Yemen is a country privileged by its young population wherein over 70 percent are of the age group 15– 45. However, this bliss turns to be a curse especially with a deteriorating economic situation coupled with higher rates of unemployment and school drop-outs.

Economists lay the blame on the government and its unproductive policies. So far, it has managed not to activate and diversify the income sources to boost the national economy. Further, the country's investment environment is still a pushing one despite the claims to the otherwise.   Even the Yemeni capitals have sought refugee in some neighboring countries.

Under the circumstances of unemployment, deteriorating economic situation and price hikes, more educated youth now seek better chances in neighboring countries or elsewhere.

Likewise, uneducated youth, in hope of making some money, seek visas to Gulf countries or even illegally infiltrate into those countries especially those which share borders with Yemen.

Figures

Over 34 percent of youth of the productive age group are jobless and frustrated, according to official sources, while international reports puts the number of unemployment at percentage higher than the above number.

Aside from the number of secondary schools graduates and schools drop-outs, Yemeni official institutes and universities graduate over 180,000; while the public and mixed sectors could maximally contain only 16,000 job seekers.

Additionally, the private sector is weak and it holds only those highly specialized people especially those specializations that meet the labor market needs including accountancy, English Language, and such like subjects.

Though there are no exact statistics about the number of Yemeni youth infiltrating to Saudi lands in search for jobs like farming, herding, etc; infiltrator Adnan Al-Asa'ad assures that thousands of Yemenis enter into Saudi Arabia looking for work there particularly in the southern areas of the kingdom.

Youth preferences

Most youth prefer to travel to Saudi Arabia and UAE because they feel that other Gulf countries are not welcoming for Yemenis. Still, those who make illegal infiltration prefer Saudi Arabia because citizens there are friendly and cooperative; while in other Gulf countries an illegal emigrants can not stay for long because citizens inform authorities of their existence.

Other highly educated people prefer America and European countries where is better chances and equal citizenship. Some stated to the Yemen Post that they would never return back to the country in case they get entrance visas or manage to acquire the citizenship of the European countries, Canada or America.

Ahmed Al-Eskandari, a street vendor from Hubaish, notes that every coming day is worse than the previous day in Yemen whereas the case is totally different in other countries. Every new day is better than the previous.

"I get up early morning and I roam most streets and intersections in Sana'a selling my cassettes and CDs. I could make about YR 700 per day in net and this is because I do not chew Qat or smoke," said Al-Eskandari.

Al-Eskandari adds that he supports a big family behind, noting he could not secure their basic needs, let alone his own. He wishes he could manage to enter into Saudi Arabia or any other Gulf country where he can make some money for his marriage, together with securing the family needs.

He maintains he will resort to illegal infiltration into Saudi Arabia in case he does not manage to get visa.

Abdul Karim Qaid, laundry owner, stresses the situation has become unbearable with prices of commodities rising markedly, hinting his facility does not yield enough profit and it just cover for its expenses and those of the workers.

Qaid maintains it is of no benefit to stay in Yemen and declares he thinks seriously of leaving the country into Saudi Arabia where he could make more money.

"In the past, I managed to make some money and to support my family in the countryside; however, it can just cover up for the basic things we need together with the expenses of workers. I hope I can find a visa to enter any Gulf country or Saudi Arabia," said Qaid.

Reasons pushing youth outside the country

Private sector employee Ahmed Al-Jalal believes the intense situation and the deterioration of the economic situation together with price rise and unemployment are the most important reasons causing the youth to leave the country.

"The situation nationwide is intense and future is more than unclear. In such a situation, capitals will not risk their money in our country, because 'capital is a coward' and prefers the safe and clean environments. When there is no investments, there are no jobs," emphasized Al-Jalal

Al-Jalal also points out that the state does nothing to keep the social peace though it has made laws for that end, stressing the officials are the first people who violate the existing laws.

Though he is paid well in his company, Al-Jalal indicates he will not linger to leave the country in case he manages to get a visa to a European, western or Gulf country.