The Arab states need serious effort to cut unemployment

The Arab states need $90 billion to create 6 million jobs and cut unemployment among young people, the Arab Labor Organization said Thursday.

The organization's general director, Ibrahim Kouider, underlined that over 50 percent of young people in the Arab states are unemployed, which entails an annual loss exceeding $100 billion.

About 25 percent of the active population in the Arab states are unemployed, he pointed out, noting that this rate ranges from 6 to 17 percent in Gulf countries and exceeds 75 percent in Palestine and Iraq.

The Arab official called for drafting fresh human development programs adapted to current needs in the Arab states to remedy the situation.