On July 3, 2025, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) published a groundbreaking report titled “The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems,” which highlights how agriculture can provide jobs for millions of youth worldwide. Given that more than 20% of the 1.3 billion youths worldwide between the ages of 15 and 24 are not enrolled in work, education, or training (NEET), the study emphasizes how utilizing agrifood systems might generate millions of jobs and increase global GDP by 1.4%. This economic growth, which accounts for 45% of the result of more young people working in agriculture, provides a route to both food security and economic stability, especially in low- and lower-middle-income nations, where 85% of the world’s youth reside.

Youth Employment in Agrifood Systems: Opportunities and Challenges

Around the world, 44% of working youth and 38% of working adults depend on agrifood systems, making them a vital source of employment for young people. However, since 54% of young people now reside in cities, especially in Eastern Asia, this percentage has decreased from 54% in 2005. In industrialised agricultural environments, rural youth—who are essential to traditional agrifood systems—make up only 5% of the population. The study cautions that as the number of young people in rural areas declines, a labour shortage may soon arise in these institutions. The FAO advises governments to combat this by promoting agricultural careers through investment, training, and innovation. Furthermore, between 2014–16 and 2021–23, food insecurity among youth increased from 16.7% to 24.4%, particularly in Africa, underscoring the need for sustainable agrifood systems to ensure both employment and nutrition.

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Climate Threats and the Path to Transformation

With 395 million rural youth living in regions predicted to experience declining agricultural production due to harsh weather and climate shocks, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, climate change poses a significant challenge. The agrifood system needs to be transformed immediately due to these environmental stresses that endanger livelihoods and exacerbate food insecurity. According to the FAO analysis, agriculture can provide jobs for millions of youth, and giving young people respectable jobs can spur more extensive systemic transformation. “The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems report provides a timely and evidence-based assessment of how decent jobs and food security for youth can be achieved through agrifood systems transformation,” according to FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. Governments can ensure robust and sustainable agrifood systems by investing in young people and utilising their potential as innovation catalysts. This change offers a positive outlook for the future by addressing unemployment while bolstering global food security and economic prosperity.

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