KEY POINTS

• The World Bank warns that 1.2 billion young people will enter the workforce in developing economies within 10–15 years, but only 400 million jobs may be created.
• Ajay Banga says the growing jobs gap could trigger social unrest, migration pressures, and national security concerns if ignored.
• Countries like Nigeria, with rapidly expanding youth populations, face heightened risk unless economic growth leads to large-scale job creation.

The World Bank has warned that Nigeria and many other developing economies could be heading toward a serious employment crisis in the coming decade, as the number of young people entering the labour market far outpaces the number of jobs expected to be created.

In a blog post published on its official platform, the Washington-based institution said demographic shifts across developing countries are accelerating, creating a massive wave of new workers at a time when job creation is not keeping pace.

According to the World Bankprojections, about 1.2 billion young people are expected to join the workforce across developing economies over the next 10 to 15 years.

However, the global development lender estimates that only around 400 million new jobs may be created within that same period, leaving a potential shortfall of roughly 800 million jobs.

The warning carries particular weight for countries like Nigeria, where a rapidly growing youth population is already facing high unemployment and underemployment.

A Growing Gap Between Workers and Jobs

The World Bank analysis highlights a widening imbalance between the number of people seeking work and the availability of meaningful employment opportunities.

This imbalance, it said, could have serious economic and social consequences if governments fail to respond with policies that expand job creation.

For Nigeria and other developing nations with youthful populations, the situation is even more pressing. Each year, millions of young people graduate from schools and universities, hoping to enter the labour market, but many struggle to secure stable employment.

The World Bank stressed that without deliberate reforms and investment in job-generating sectors, the mismatch between labour supply and available jobs could deepen in the coming years.

The President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, warned that the issue extends beyond economics and development.

According to him, a large-scale job shortage could trigger wider security and governance challenges.

Banga noted that rising unemployment among young people has the potential to fuel social unrest, irregular migration, and strain on public institutions if governments fail to address the situation early.