A new UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) study links today’s youth jobs crisis to a clear opportunity on farms and in food supply chains. The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems report finds that more than one in five of the world’s 1.3 billion people aged 15‑24 are not in school, work, or training. Closing that gap for 20‑ to 24‑year‑olds could push world gross domestic product up by 1.4 percent, and nearly half of the gain would come from young workers joining agrifood roles.
Main findings
- Workforce share: Forty‑four percent of employed youth already earn a living in farming, fishing, processing, or food retail, compared with 38 percent of working adults.
- Trend line: That youth share has fallen from 54 percent in 2005, hinting at a future labor shortfall if farming remains unattractive.
- Urban shift: Fifty‑four percent of young people now live in cities; rural youth account for only five percent of the population in places where agriculture is highly industrialized.
- Food insecurity: The share of young people facing moderate or severe hunger climbed from 16.7 percent to 24.4 percent between 2014‑16 and 2021‑23, hitting Africa the hardest.
- Climate risk: About 395 million rural youth reside in zones where climate change is expected to cut crop yields.
Barriers the report highlights
Most young workers in agrifood systems hold short‑term or informal jobs. 91% percent of young women and 83 percent of young men lack written contracts and benefits. Limited access to land titles, bank loans, and decision‑making forums also blocks progress. FAO Deputy Director Lauren Phillips says governments must “prepare young people with skills and education so that they can have decent jobs in agrifood systems.”
What FAO recommends
The study calls on policymakers to:
- Fund training that matches modern farm needs, from climate‑smart seed selection to digital market tools.
- Open finance channels so first‑time farmers can buy equipment and secure land leases.
- Support youth cooperatives and unions that give young workers a stronger voice in local and national plans.
FAO Director‑General Qu Dongyu writes that young people “can act as catalysts for broader agrifood transformation” when offered real choices and safe working conditions.
What step would help young people in your area choose a career in food and farming? Share your ideas below.
