Youth Unemployment in Mauritius: A Pressing Concern

Mauritius is grappling with a rising ageing population, resulting in fewer young people entering the workforce. Yet, many of those who are available for work remain unemployed. In today’s rapidly evolving world—shaped by technological advancement and artificial intelligence—it is more crucial than ever for our youth to acquire the skills needed to thrive in the modern job market. Unfortunately, a large number of young Mauritians hold only a School Certificate, limiting their employment prospects. How can we better equip our youth and address the growing unemployment crisis? Basheer Taleb, pedagogue and President of the Federation of Managers of Private Secondary School shares his perspectives with News on Sunday.

Mauritius is increasingly confronted with the demographic challenge of a growing ageing population, leading to a shrinking youth labour force. Yet, paradoxically, youth unemployment remains a pressing issue. A significant number of young Mauritians find themselves locked out of meaningful employment opportunities—often due to limited qualifications, with many holding only a School Certificate.

At the same time, the global job landscape is being reshaped by rapid technological advances, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. This shift is not only redefining the nature of work but also raising the bar for the skills and adaptability required to remain competitive.

Basheer Taleb trusts that there has been indeed a shift in the demands of the world of work. “The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th century that brought a shift from hand production to mechanization was characterized by the over exploitation of children. This is beautifully picturized by William Blake’s ‘The Chimney Sweeper’:

When my mother died I was  very young,

And my father sold me while yet my tongue

Could scarcely cry 'weep! 'weep! 'weep! 'weep!"

So your chimneys I sweep, and in soot I sleep.

In fact, those were the days when the very concept of ‘youth’ was non-existent as one moved from babyhood to a transitional period of apprenticeship and then quickly on to adulthood. It is only much after, with the advent of schooling that the youth, as we know them now, appeared. Today, it is a fact that in many countries youth unemployment rates are significantly higher than adult rates and young people have to struggle to find stable, meaningful work, especially when they lack the relevant skills. "Decent work" implies productive employment with a fair income, job security, and social protection. Without skills training young people cannot have access to such opportunities. This is especially true with the changing nature of work. Today, Automation, AI, and digitalization are reshaping industries and traditional jobs are disappearing, while new roles demand 21st-century skills like digital literacy, critical thinking, adaptability, and communication. Besides, since we know that not all youth will find jobs, many will need to create their own through entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial skills such as creativity, financial literacy, and business planning will empower the youth not only to build businesses but also to generate jobs for others,” he explains.

According to the UN, about 450 million youth (7 out of 10) are economically disengaged, due to lack of adequate skills to succeed in the labour market. In Mauritius, according to the latest stats, in the first quarter of 2025, there were 6,300 (18%) young persons aged 16 to 24 years, not yet married and looking for a first job.  Some 2,600 possessed a qualification below SC. Basheer Taleb asserts that this is a serious state of affairs caused by several reasons. “To begin with, the overemphasis that our education system places places on the rat race and academic success estranges many young people who are not equipped to withstand the academic tempo. Those who cannot secure the SC are nipped in the bud.

Besides, the world of school is so completely divorced from the world of work that adaptation is a painful process. Elsewhere, young people have opportunities to perform menial jobs or work placement during school holidays. This immersion in the work culture allows them to develop certain skills and attitudes that render them more fit for work once they leave school,” he utters.

He affirms that if we want our youth to become employable not just on the local market but also on the global market, we have no choice but to equip them with modern skills as many current and future jobs will require digital literacy and understanding of AI applications. “We are talking of tackling poverty and promoting social mobility. We should not forget that it is only a well-prepared youth population that can strengthen national economies and contribute to economic productivity and innovation.”

Need for reform in our education system

AI is reshaping how we live, learn, and work—but if not implemented equitably, it risks deepening the digital divide. Marginalized youth are especially at risk of being left behind. According to the UN, 86% of students feel unprepared for an AI-driven workplace. What can Mauritius do to better equip its youth for this future—fairly and inclusively? What reforms are needed in our education system to bridge the gap?
“The reforms that we need to bring can only happen if ALL stakeholders are ready to go through the change process. Our present curriculum focusses on knowledge transmission. We should change to skills development and skills transformation. We need to rehaul the curriculum and introduce basic AI as from the Primary so that by the time children embark on the Secondary, we could teach higher skills like coding, data science and computational thinking across subjects. Of course, a thorough program of training and upskilling of educators should be started but conceptualized as a professional development program so that educators adopt a pedagogy that is facilitated by and, in turn, facilitates the use of AI and digital tools. The success of the reforms would necessitate the provision of digital infrastructure across the educational institutions in an equitable manner.  Project-based and experiential learning should help to bring the school closer to the world of work. A greater collaboration with industry experts and tech institutions should help to promote hands-on learning and upper secondary students should already be able to tackle real problems in the community. From Primary onwards, the concept of digital citizenship should be promoted and issues of online safety, privacy and digital ethics should be addressed in a way that a positive digital culture prevails,” declares Basheer Taleb.

Tackling Brain Drain Issue

Mauritius continues to grapple with the growing challenge of brain drain, as many of its talented and skilled young professionals seek career opportunities abroad. This persistent trend raises concerns about the country’s capacity to retain the very individuals who are vital to driving innovation and shaping a more inclusive, ethical, and sustainable future. Can this migration of talent be reversed? And how can Mauritius encourage its youth to remain and play a leading role in building a future driven by digital skills and artificial intelligence—one that benefits all segments of society?

“In order to reverse brain drain we should mobilise several sectors of Mauritian life. I think first and foremost, we should work towards meritocracy and more efficient public service. Factors like transport, health, public safety and recreation have to be improved in order to improve the quality of life. There should be more job creation for skilled professionals and a salary grid that aligns with international standards,” affirms Basheer Taleb. 

In the education sector, he states, we should be able to develop a system that equips our students with skills that are needed in the present and in the foreseeable future. “Our tertiary institutions should work closely with the business sector to develop innovation and encourage creativity through research. This implies a paradigm change.”