World Population Day 2014: Investing in Young People

Friday 11 July 2014 marks World Population Day, with this year's focus on investing in young people.

Today's 1.8 billion young people are shaping social and economic realities, challenging norms and values, and building the foundation of the world's future. Yet too many young people continue to grapple with poverty, inequality and human rights violations that prevent them from reaching their personal and collective potential.

On World Population Day 2014, the UN are calling for investments in support of the largest-ever generation of youth. To mark this year's World population Day, we are highlighting a number of CPC Briefing Papers. These papers aim to inform the development of social policy and practice by identifying new trends in young peoples' transitions to adulthood, exploring the impact of recession, the choices facing those finishing higher education and examining the role of intergenerational support.

"The transition into adulthood can be a precarious and unpredictable time for young adults. Recently this has been compounded by increased educational costs and investment, labour market insecurity and reductions in government support, along with declining access to independent living and home ownership." says CPC Director, Jane Falkingham. "However, these issues facing young people need to be addressed alongside an understanding of the issues facing all generations: understanding intergenerational relations and exchange remains a key research and policy priority."

'Twenty+ Futures' considers how global uncertainties - recession, climate change, peak oil, loss of biodiversity, terrorism - impact on how young adults think about their futures, particularly when it comes to finding a partner or becoming a parent.

In 'The role of family and friends in the housing pathways of single young adults', we examine the forms of support that are provided by parents and other relatives in helping young adults to achieve residential independence, and how the young adults feel about receiving financial and material support.

'The changing living arrangements of young adults in the UK' explores the reasons behind the fact that more young adults in the UK now remain in the parental home, or live independently outside a family. It examines the extent to which these trends are explained by increased immigration of foreign-born young adults, expansion in higher education and increased economic insecurity faced by young adults.

In 'The complex migration pathways of UK graduates' we see that migration pathways for graduates in the five years after leaving university are often complex, non-linear and precarious. This goes against the often-assumed idea that graduates face an upward trajectory, ultimately resulting in improved opportunities and social betterment.

The paper 'Longer time spent in education means starting families later in life' shows how the change in the timing of motherhood has been mainly due to a longer time spent in education, but also to life course delays after the end of education. The research demonstrates how the age at which people complete their education is crucial to the demographic analysis of events in young adulthood.

"On this World Population Day, I call on all with influence to prioritize youth in development plans, strengthen partnerships with youth-led organizations, and involve young people in all decisions that affect them." says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "By empowering today's youth, we will lay the groundwork for a more sustainable future for generations to come."

To find out more about World Population Day 2014, visit the UNFPA website or join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook #wpd2014

Posted 10/07/2014 14:01