Arab unemployment report calls for investing locally and not internationally

The Arab Labor Organization has announced that the rate of unemployment in the Arab world is estimated at 14% of the Arab labor force, and the number of unemployed in various Arab states reached some 12 million.

The report warned against an increase in the unemployment rate due to newcomers to the labor markets, including persons with high or intermediate qualifications, a matter which would create economic and social problems.

A study prepared by the organization and recently published in Cairo said the occupation conditions in the Arab states are adversely affected by regional and international economic changes and a lack of interest in overall development programs, especially human resources programs, in certain Arab states.

The report, published in Cairo, called for investing Arab savings deposited abroad in establishing investment and development projects which ensure thousands of job opportunities so as to alleviate unemployment rate, train workers, develop human development programs and link these programs to education laws, amending work legislation according to economic changes and reactivating Arab labor agreements to ensure the free access of the Arab labor force and ensure their rights.