Several real barriers of youth in entrepreneurs for example; low encouragement due to lack of role model access, insufficient entrepreneurial attitudes and skills, low performance due to lack of entrepreneurship experience, financial restriction, limited business networks and business-related social capital, market barriers. One possible way to address youth unemployment is to support young people in creating their own businesses. They have the interest and potential to become self-employed.

Youth are more likely to have a preference (as much as 45% of youth prefer) self-employment to employment. Youth are also more likely to believe that self-employment is feasible: 41% of youth think that they could be self-employed within the next 5 years. Despite having a preference for self-employment, few youth are able to sustain themselves in self-employment.

In order to address those issues, there should be a focus on developing entrepreneurial mind-sets (such as recognising and acting on an opportunity) for prospective entrepreneurs. Younger people may have the determination and enthusiasm to run a business but do they have the appropriate skills-set and leadership qualities as well as characters?

Regarding this issue, WIES invites you to join side events by West Sumatera Young Entrepreneurs (HIPMI Sumbar) on “Youth Digital Fest” | ASEAN E-sport competition & ASEAN Investor pitching ideas|