Min Aung Hlaing says youth emigration causes labour shortage

(August 1) Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of the Myanmar military junta, has stated that the emigration of a large number of young people from Myanmar is leading to a shortage of skilled labour domestically and could impact economic development. However, the latest report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) indicates that the underlying reasons for young people wanting to emigrate are linked to the security situation, economic decline, and the loss of educational and employment opportunities following the military coup. Speaking at the 100-day session of the 2026 parliamentary assembly on July 31, Min Aung Hlaing cited 2024 census data, stating that young people aged 15 to 34 constitute up to 71.7 percent of those migrating to foreign countries for work. He noted that while there are benefits to youth emigration, such as remittances to families and the acquisition of technology and work experience, it could lead to a shortage of skilled labour and a decline in production capacity domestically, potentially impacting the country's long-term economic development. Furthermore, Min Aung Hlaing claimed that due to a lack of education and discipline among young people, they have become involved in acts of terrorism that have occurred since the 2021 coup. However, the UNDP report on Myanmar's youth, released on July 30, links the current situation of young people to the political, economic, and social crises that have emerged since the military coup. Conscription Law and Security Concerns One of the main reasons for the increasing emigration of young people from Myanmar has been the implementation of the junta's conscription law. The military regime enacted the People's Military Service Law in February 2024, making it possible to conscript men aged 18 to 35 and women within specified age groups. Following this, many young people have attempted to flee to Thailand and other foreign countries via border areas to avoid military service. Human rights organizations and UN agencies have also warned that the conscription law has heightened concerns among young people, and those emigrating through illegal channels face risks of human trafficking and labour rights violations. One in Four Youth Unemployed According to the UNDP report, approximately one million young people may have emigrated from Myanmar since the military coup, and over 75 percent of young people aged 18 to 24 have dropped out of education and vocational training. Additionally, one in four young people are unemployed, and nearly one in three young people are experiencing stress and anxiety, according to the UNDP. While four out of ten young people stated they would emigrate if given the opportunity, nearly 90 percent of this group said they would return to the country if conditions in Myanmar improved. The emigration of young people represents not only a loss of labour force for Myanmar but is also directly related to the rebuilding of future human resources. While Min Aung Hlaing's statement focuses on the economic impact of youth migration, the UNDP report emphasizes the underlying reasons for youth emigration, such as military-related hardships, security concerns, economic decline, and uncertainty about the future. Therefore, resolving the issue of youth migration requires creating political, security, and economic conditions where young people can live with confidence, which is a more critical factor than regaining the labour force.