Tackling Youth Unemployment & Migration in East Africa

• East Africa faces a growing crisis of youth unemployment, with rates exceeding 30% in some countries, pushing many young people toward internal and international migration.

• Migration, while providing economic benefits through remittances, also exposes youth to exploitation, labor abuses, and risks of radicalization.

• The region’s labor migration policies, such as Kenya’s agreements with European and Gulf nations, demonstrate a shift toward institutionalized labor export strategies, but lack sufficient worker protections.

• Addressing the root causes of youth unemployment requires a dual approach: fostering local employment opportunities while negotiating safer migration pathways with host nations.

Youth unemployment in East Africa is one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges facing the region. With nearly 60% of the population under the age of 25, job creation has failed to keep pace with the rapid expansion of the workforce. Consequently, so many young people seek opportunities abroad, often through risky and unregulated migration routes.

While remittances provide a vital financial lifeline to families and national economies, the unregulated nature of migration exposes many young Africans to exploitative labor conditions, trafficking networks, and deportation risks. Additionally, the loss of skilled labor or ‘brain drain’, is seen presenting long-term economic challenges. The policies of regional governments, particularly Kenya and Ethiopia, have shifted toward formalizing labor migration agreements, yet the concerns over the protection of migrant workers abroad remain.

Post-colonial East African economies have struggled with structural unemployment due to slow industrialization and an overreliance on agriculture. The informal sector has absorbed a large percentage of the workforce, but such jobs offered only little job security, benefits, or upward mobility. In the last two decades, however, economic shocks, climate change, and political instability (e.g., in Somalia, South Sudan) have increased youth unemployment rates, leading to an increase in migration.

Currently, governments like Kenya’s are encouraging migration through official labor agreements with Gulf nations and Europe, but concerns remain about worker protections. Somali youth, facing economic hardship and instability, often take dangerous, illegal migration routes to the Middle East, increasing their exposure to trafficking and exploitation. Meanwhile, Ethiopia and Uganda are experiencing significant brain drain, particularly in the healthcare and education sectors, as skilled professionals leave for better opportunities abroad.

Key stakeholders in this issue include East African governments, which must balance economic growth with workforce retention, and foreign host nations, which benefit from cheap labor but do not always guarantee fair treatment of migrant workers. International organizations advocate for improved migrant rights, while human trafficking networks continue to exploit vulnerable youth seeking a way out of unemployment. If these trends continue unchecked, East Africa risks long-term labor shortages in critical sectors, increasing social dependency on remittances and exposing young migrants to further exploitation and security threats.

In order to address youth unemployment and migration challenges, governments need to focus on three key areas. First, expanding domestic job opportunities by investing in vocational training, technology, and small businesses would help reduce migration pressure. Second, strengthening legal migration pathways through international agreements can ensure safer working conditions and better labor protections for East African workers abroad. Finally, combating illegal migration and trafficking by enhancing border security and cooperating with international agencies would help reduce exploitation and associated security risks. A balanced approach combining these strategies will help create more opportunities at home while protecting migrants abroad.

Youth unemployment in East Africa is a structural issue that requires a multi-pronged strategy. While migration provides economic benefits, its risks, ranging from labor exploitation to brain drain, necessitate urgent policy interventions. Governments must balance job creation with regulated migration frameworks to ensure that migration remains a choice rather than a necessity.

By investing in local employment, improving worker protections abroad, and cracking down on human trafficking, East African nations can secure a more sustainable and ethical labor market future.