NFTE blog

Just this week the venerable publication The Economist shined a spotlight on the reality of the youth unemployment crisis.  There are now estimated to be 290 million young people – 25% of all youth worldwide – who are not employed, pursing education or in a vocational training program.  NFTE and entrepreneurship education are more vital than ever.

By Amy Rosen

I had a wonderful experience today helping chart the course for bringing financial literacy to all young Americans. I joined the President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability in presenting our findings to President Obama.

By Amy Rosen
NFTE President & CEO

I feel a strong sense of optimism as I continue to participate in meetings and events, and talk with people spontaneously in and out of the Congress Centre. A growing group of business and government leaders, social entrepreneurs and journalists are coming to the conclusion that we must act NOW and together to find solutions that offer hope to the growing global army of unemployed youth. Driven by economic interests and/or moral callings, I sense that urgency is suddenly entering the discussion.  Add 75 million current unemployed youth with the 200+ million that today make less than $2.00 per day and suddenly, we are facing a cold reality. 35% of young people under 27 are turning more and more towards hopelessness.

“It is entrepreneurs who represent the best hope of creating sustained economic growth around the world. Students who can develop the entrepreneurial mindset early on are going to have a distinct advantage, whether economic conditions are weak or strong.”– MARIA PINELLI, GLOBAL VICE CHAIR,STRATEGIC GROWTH MARKETS, ERNST & YOUNG GLOBAL LTD. & CHAIRMAN, NFTE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NFTE released a new white paper, “Your Assignment: Grow the Global Economy,” at the World Economic Forum 2013 annual meeting in Davos today. It outlines the rationale for expanding the outreach of entrepreneurship education to combat the trend of youth unemployment.

By Amy Rosen
NFTE President & CEO

Here at the World Economic Forum, it is clear that big issues like how to jumpstart the economy, the need to foster small business development as an engine of job creation, and preparing today’s youth to be tomorrow’s skilled workforce but smarter, better, entrepreneurial are on the minds of all CEOs and corporate leaders.

The statistics are overwhelming:

• 50% of the world’s population is under the age of 27
• 1.5 billion people ages 15-29 are vying for only 300 million jobs

NFTE is bringing the solution to these horrific statistics, entrepreneurship education for all young people, to the 2013 World Economic Forum.

What apps have you designed? 28 Students in NFTE’s New York Metro NYC Generation Tech program just completed the inaugural program to design and build a usable app. The winning app, selected by a team of judges, including Tumblr founder, David Karp, is SkooBrik.