September 1, 2026 Youth Exodus Threatens Future Karenni State-Building Efforts

Around 7,000 young people have left Karenni State for foreign countries since Myanmar's February 2021 military coup, raising concerns over the long-term impact on state-building, according to the Interim Executive Council of Karenni State (IEC). Driven by ongoing armed conflict, worsening economic conditions, and the loss of education and employment opportunities, youth aged 18 to 35 are increasingly migrating to neighboring Thailand and other regional destinations, including Malaysia and Singapore. “Because of the civil war, young people have lost access to education, and secure job opportunities are scarce,” said Khun Thomas, head of the IEC’s Department of Youth Affairs (DOYA). “Many have lost their sense of direction. To cope with severe livelihood challenges, they are taking significant risks to go abroad, both legally and illegally.” Male migrants outnumber females by more than 50%, with the vast majority currently residing in Thailand. Economic hardship at home has left many families with few alternatives. “Life became extremely difficult for my family, and raising my child was a struggle,” a Karenni woman working in Thailand told NMG. “With the price of a bag of rice soaring above 100,000 kyats, we simply could not afford basic necessities. To prevent my family from suffering further, I decided to take the risk and come to Thailand for work.” The collapse of the formal education system following the coup has also forced many students to abandon their studies in pursuit of employment overseas. “I never planned to work abroad,” said a young male migrant who recently left the country. “However, after the political situation shifted, I lost the opportunity to continue my education. As my family’s financial situation deteriorated, leaving became the only option. The political crisis is the root cause of all these changes.” Khun Thomas warned that the continuous outflow of young talent could severely hinder future nation-building and governance efforts in the region. “These young people represent the foundation required to build our future state,” Khun Thomas said. “While we are actively working toward state freedom and self-determination, we are losing their active participation. Naturally, this loss will have a profound long-term impact.” In addition to economic pressures, ongoing military clashes, severe travel restrictions, and escalating security risks continue to fuel the migration crisis. While remittance money may provide short-term relief for struggling households, analysts warn that the sustained loss of young workers will leave Karenni State facing a critical shortage of human capital needed for post-conflict reconstruction and socioeconomic development.