This paper was commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat under the Commonwealth Youth Programme in order to outline and analyse some of the more serious employment problems facing young people in developing countries - and to indicate areas where practical action is required. It is an overview paper written by Dr. H.W. Singer, Fellow of the Institute of Development Studies and Professor of Development Economics at Sussex University with the assistance of Lyn Reynolds. Dr. Singer is also adviser to the I.L.O. on the World Employment Programme.