Asia-Pacific Summit
Poverty and Unimployment Crisis
Poverty and unemployment is a worldwide issue and the Asia-Pacific region is being hit particularly hard. The current economic crisis has decreased the amount of jobs available in Asia and, in turn, the amount of impoverished citizens has increased. This is not the only reason for the high rates of poverty and unemployment, however, for there is also a very high population in the Asia-Pacific. While it is true that there are more people than there are jobs, many citizens lack some of the basic education necessary to hold a job and stay above the poverty line.
It is predicted that over the next year some 140 million additional workers, mostly in developing countries, will be pushed into extreme poverty (an income of below $1.25 per person per day). It is also predicted that the amount of people in working poverty (below $2 per person per day) could rise by 120 million. This growing issue is the worst since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Since 2008, millions have lost their jobs; the total amount of unemployed people living in the Asia-Pacific region is currently over 200 million.
The United Nations is called upon to aid in solving poverty and unemployment by not only creating jobs, but also increasing education, social standing and improving the quality of the environment in the Asia Pacific.