Youth employment and migration trends reported in Mozambique and Portugal

In Mozambique, an Afrobarometer survey conducted by CS Research reveals significant labor market challenges for young people aged 18 to 35. Approximately 65% of this demographic are unemployed and actively seeking work, while 21% are unemployed but not looking. Due to these difficulties, 46% of respondents expressed a preference for entrepreneurship, compared to 31% seeking public sector roles and 13% seeking private sector employment. Key barriers to employment include a lack of training, cited by 30%, and a lack of professional experience, cited by 19%. Among those surveyed, 51% believe job creation should be a priority in public spending for youth.

In Portugal, a study by Eurofirms indicates that 51% of young people between 18 and 29 have seriously considered emigrating or working abroad. While 41% have contemplated leaving, only 10.5% have concrete plans to do so. The primary drivers for considering emigration are higher salaries (67%), followed by quality of life and work-life balance (43%), and housing costs (18%). Additionally, 41% of employed youth reported frustration with a lack of salary transparency when seeking new jobs.