Latest news with #OrganizationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment
Leaders
3 days ago
- Business
- Leaders
OECD Delegation Commends Saudi Arabia's School Evaluation Advancements
A delegation from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) concluded a visit to the headquarters of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) as part of an ongoing technical cooperation initiative. The visit focused on exchanging expertise and discussing technical aspects of learning outcomes assessment frameworks and school evaluation in the Kingdom's general education system. The OECD team praised ETEC's organizational development and its accomplishments in evaluating general education, highlighting the Commission's substantial and comprehensive progress despite the expansive scale of Saudi Arabia's education sector. Dr. Harold Hislop, head of the OECD expert team and former Chief Inspector at Ireland's Department of Education (2010–2020), commended the rapid and wide-reaching strides made by Saudi Arabia. He described ETEC's newly established school evaluation system as a significant milestone and an impressive achievement for the education sector. Related Topics : Saudi Arabia Poised for 3.8% Economic Growth in 2025: OECD Paris AI Action Summit: SDAIA Highlights Saudi Arabia as Comprehensive Governance Model Saudi Health Ministry Addresses Concerns Over X Disease Saudi Student Excels in Huawei Global Cloud Computing Competition Short link : Post Views: 55 Related Stories
![[Editorial] No work, no future](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fkoreaherald.com.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Editorial] No work, no future
Rise in NEETs illustrates deepening shortage of decent jobs for young workers It is one of South Korea's most confounding contradictions: a nation bracing for demographic collapse, yet failing to provide its young people with the jobs they need to build lives, families and futures. With the presidential election just days away, on June 3, the major candidates remain preoccupied with political brinkmanship — dredging up old scandals and lobbing accusations over peripheral controversies — rather than addressing what may be the country's most urgent crisis: the hollowing out of its labor market. The population is aging. The birth rate remains among the world's lowest. And a growing number of young Koreans, disillusioned by what they see, are opting out altogether. According to a report from the Korea Employment Information Service, 18.3 percent of Koreans aged 15 to 29 were classified as "NEET" — not in education, employment or training — as of 2022. That ranks third among 11 major member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, far exceeding the OECD average of 12.6 percent. Even more troubling is the trend. While peer nations have succeeded in shrinking their NEET populations since 2014, South Korea's has continued to rise. This is a symptom of deeper structural malaise, signaling a breakdown in the country's ability to generate meaningful employment for its young workers. At the heart of the issue is a persistent mismatch between expectations and opportunity. South Korea produces a highly educated labor force, but the domestic market has failed to generate enough jobs meeting their skills or ambitions. Positions at top-tier conglomerates remain scarce and fiercely competitive. In their absence, many young Koreans see little point in settling for low-paying roles at small or midsize firms, or for insecure temporary jobs. Faced with that choice, nearly 60 percent of NEETs report a lack of motivation to keep searching. The message they receive from the job market is clear: There is no place for them. One consequence is a rise in those who say they are 'just resting.' These are potential workers who have been sidelined, often involuntarily. By the third quarter of last year, more than 420,000 Koreans aged 25 to 34 were classified in this category, marking a 25 percent increase from the year before, according to the Bank of Korea. The risks are long-term: Prolonged detachment from the workforce can calcify into chronic unemployment or permanent withdrawal, eroding not only individual prospects but the country's economic potential. The deeper concern is the shortage of what are perceived as 'decent jobs' — those that are stable, well-compensated and offer a path to advancement. In the pursuit of lower costs, many large firms have offshored production. At home, economic uncertainty has dampened the mood for new investment. Hiring practices, meanwhile, remain risk-averse and inflexible. Employers often prefer experienced candidates over recent graduates. Employment protections, intended to foster security, have instead discouraged the creation of new permanent roles. So far, the presidential hopefuls have failed to meaningfully confront these challenges. Their platforms gesture toward job creation, but often in vague or populist terms. Proposals for stipends or slogans offer little in the way of structural reform. Artificial intelligence is frequently invoked as a growth engine — yet seldom acknowledged as a disruptive force that, according to a joint report by the Bank of Korea and the International Monetary Fund, could make 27 percent of existing jobs obsolete. It is not enough to champion AI investment without a plan to support those it displaces. Whoever wins next week must come to terms with this reality: South Korea's long-term economic vitality depends on building a labor market that works for its youth. Creating jobs — real, desirable, future-oriented ones — cannot be an afterthought. It must be at the heart of any economic strategy. For without opportunity, there will be no incentive to marry, to raise children, or even to stay. And without its youth, South Korea will have no future.
The Mainichi
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
'State-sanctioned murder': Ex-Mongolian president urges Japan to debate death penalty
TOKYO -- Former Mongolian President Elbegdorj Tsakhia, who led Mongolia's abolition of the death penalty during his presidency, has called for open debate on the death penalty in Japan during an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun as part of his visit to the country. Referring to Japan's retention of the death penalty despite an international trend toward abolishing it, Elbegdorj pointed out that if more information is disclosed, public opinion in favor of the death penalty will change and called for transparency in procedures. Elbegdorj, who was involved in Mongolia's democratization, became prime minister before assuming the presidency in 2009. While in office, he commuted death sentences to life imprisonment and declared a moratorium on executions. Through legal reforms, Mongolia abolished the death penalty in 2017. Initially, there was strong public opposition to the moratorium, but with increased transparency and national debate, public opinion gradually shifted, Elbegdorj said. He further stated, "Crime has also decreased since the abolition of the death penalty. Punishment does not necessarily lead to the maintenance of public safety." Regarding life imprisonment as an alternative to the death penalty, the former president said, "For the families of the victims, it is better to let them (the offenders) live and reflect on their crimes every day than to end their lives with the death penalty to atone for their sins." In giving a reason for maintaining the death penalty system in Japan, the Japanese government has cited the results of public opinion polls, stating that "80% of the population accepts the death penalty." On this point, Elbegdorj emphasized, "If you know the process of the death penalty and the emotional toll it takes on the people involved, you will definitely change your mind." According to Amnesty International, 145 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Among the 38 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, only Japan, the United States and South Korea retain the death penalty. Japan has not carried out any executions for nearly three years -- an unusually long period in recent times. Elbegdorj argued, "The death penalty is state-sanctioned murder and against humanity. Now is the time for Japan to discuss the pros and cons of the death penalty."
Yomiuri Shimbun
7 days ago
- Health
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Underweight Women: Extreme Desire To Be Thin Damages Health
There is an increasing number of women who are too thin, damaging their health as a result. If a person is naturally slim and healthy, there is no problem. But many are engaging in excessive dieting and becoming malnourished. A trend of prioritizing one's appearance is spreading throughout society, and consequently, women appear to have become more susceptible to the desire to be thin. This mindset must be corrected. Japanese women reportedly have the highest proportion of underweight individuals among developed nations. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the percentage of Japanese women classified as underweight based on body mass index was about five times higher than in the United States and Germany. Additionally, a survey by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry found that women classified as underweight were particularly prevalent among younger generations, with one in four women in their 20s falling into this category. Moreover, a survey indicated that half of young women who are underweight want to lose even more weight, which is concerning. Amid this situation, experts have begun to sound the alarm. Last month, the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity classified health problems caused by low body weight and malnutrition in women as a 'disease,' and it launched efforts to establish treatment and prevention methods. Low body weight and malnutrition can lead to anemia, abnormal menstrual cycles, and reduced muscle strength and bone density. In severe cases, it can result in infertility or osteoporosis. Those who are severely thin are also more prone to diabetes, just like people who are obese. It is important to be aware of the risks of low body weight and pay attention to one's diet, exercise and sleep on a daily basis. If malnutrition continues with low body weight, such women may also give birth to underweight babies in the future, potentially leading to disabilities or developmental delays. Recent studies suggest that such children have a higher risk of developing diabetes or hypertension in adulthood. Some people develop eating disorders, such as anorexia or overeating, after becoming mentally ill as the result of prolonged extreme dieting. The rise in people unable to suppress their desire to lose weight partly stems from the influence of social media. There are endless cases of women who are influenced by videos about people's dieting experiences and resort to extreme eating restrictions. It is especially important to protect adolescents in their growth and development period. The government may urge social media companies to impose certain restrictions on content, such as extreme diet videos, that could cause children to have an inferiority complex about their physical appearance. Casual remarks like 'You're a bit chubby' or 'You've gained weight' made by family members or others around them can be taken seriously by young women and lead to eating disorders and other conditions. It is important to be mindful of whether the idea that 'being thin equals beauty' is being forced on a person. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 25, 2025)
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Young American men are ‘uniquely' lonely compared to other countries, poll finds
Young American men are 'uniquely' lonely compared to the rest of the country — and to much of the world, according to new polling. In the latest Gallup survey, 25% of 15-34-year-old men reported feeling lonely a lot of the previous day, which was significantly higher than the national average of 18%. By comparison, loneliness was reported in smaller shares in all other demographics, including 15-34-year-old women (18%), 35-54-year-old men (15%) and 35-54-year-old women (20%). Men and women aged 55 and older reported some of the lowest levels of loneliness — 16% and 17%, respectively. Young American men were also more likely than the rest of the population to report feeling worry (46% vs. 37%) and stress (57% vs. 48%). The poll — which sampled about 1,000 U.S. adults between June and August and has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points — also looked at loneliness levels in other wealthy, democratic countries. Comparison to other countries Across 38 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a median of 16% of respondents said they felt lonely a lot the previous day, while a median of 15% of young men said the same. This suggests that young men in most high-income nations are about as lonely as other demographics. That said, young American men are not alone in experiencing high levels of loneliness. In nine countries, 20% or more of young men reported feeling lonely the previous day. These include Canada (22%), Ireland (23%), France (24%) and Turkey (29%). But, in most sampled countries — unlike in the U.S. — loneliness levels in young men tracked closely with their national averages. In fact, in just three countries was the loneliness rate among young men significantly higher than the rest of the population. In addition to the U.S., these included Iceland and Denmark, where 15% of young men reported experiencing daily loneliness — while for the overall population, these figures stood at 10% and 9%, respectively. But, 'nowhere is the gap as large as in the U.S., where young men are uniquely lonely (25%) compared with all other adults (17%),' according to Gallup. 'This is a rare pattern across wealthy countries…' In contrast, young men reported less loneliness than the general population in nine countries — including Mexico, Italy and Colombia — and the figures were about the same as the national average in the remaining 26 countries. Loneliness as a stand-alone metric matters because it closely tracks with other negative outcomes. For example, those who reported feeling daily loneliness were significantly less likely to report smiling a lot, feeling well-rested and feeling satisfied with opportunities to make friends. The findings of the survey come in contrast to a recent Pew Research Center poll, released in January, which found roughly equal shares of American men and women experience recurrent loneliness. However, the poll found a strong age divide, with young people reporting higher levels of loneliness than their older counterparts.
