320M Young People, 110M Jobs: The Future Starts Now

The decisions made now will define a generation.

August 14, 2026 Every generation inherits a set of challenges. For the 320 million young people in East Asia and Pacific reaching working age over the next decade, the defining one is jobs.   From the fiscal choices that determine whether commodity wealth funds a generation or fuels a bust, the creative industries poised to add 20 million jobs in Africa, women entrepreneurs in Central Asia turning training into payroll, or childcare vouchers in Kosovo freeing mothers to work — the thread is the same: what happens next depends on the choices being made today.  Plus, see how indigenous midwives are delivering care — and preserving generations of knowledge — in communities around the world.

East Asia's Youth Are Ready. Are the Jobs? Only 110 million new jobs are projected for a region where 320 million young people will reach working age over the next decade. Closing that gap means investing in skills, expanding opportunity, and giving young people a voice in shaping tomorrow's economies. Across the region, that work is already underway.

EDITOR'S PICKS

Fashion, Film, and the Future of Work The creative sector generates $2.3 trillion annually and employs over 200 million people — yet emerging markets receive less than 1% of global creative economy financing. IFC has committed nearly $1 billion to change that, with Africa alone projected to gain 20 million jobs by 2030.

Commodity Wealth Is Not Enough. Here's What Is. Commodity booms are easy to celebrate — but hard to manage. For resource-rich economies, smart fiscal policy can mean the difference between lasting growth and a damaging bust.

Turning Investment Readiness Into Jobs in Armenia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan Less than a quarter of small businesses in Europe and Central Asia are led by women — not for lack of ambition, but lack of access. WeVenture is closing that gap, connecting high-potential founders with the training, networks, and investors they need to grow.

When Childcare Works, So Do Economies When families can't afford childcare, mothers stay home and children miss out on early learning. In Kosovo, a World Bank-supported voucher program is delivering care for 313 children from low-income families across 15 municipalities, with plans to reach 3,800.

WATCH AND LISTEN

Can AI Help Developing Countries Create More and Better Jobs? Developing countries will need to create productive jobs for the largest generation of young workers in history. AI could help — but only if the right choices are made now. The World Development Report 2026 finds that AI's greatest promise lies not in replacing workers, but in amplifying what they can do.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

		You Ask, We Answer | Unlocking Job Creation in Fragile Settings  Sept. 2, 2026: 10am EDT

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IN THE NEWS

World Bank Group Statement on Colombia’s Earthquake World Bank Group Invests in Africa's Digital Commerce Infrastructure to Support Jobs and Small Businesses  Syria: World Bank Approves US$100 Million Grant for Financial Sector Modernization View More News

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