The Middle East needs to prepare for the challenges arising from the rapid growth in the size of its young population, James Wolfensohn has warned.

The Middle East must invest heavily in education and support to ensure that young people can continue to be assured a place in the job market, the former head of the World Bank James Wolfensohn has announced.

Speaking to news agency the Middle East, the economist warned that many young people in Qatar and other highly developed nations in the region refuse to fill positions lower down in various sectors and industries, with immigrants usually taking up the posts.

A senior regional economist added: "A sudden influx of money meant hard work was no longer as necessary, they could afford to bring in people to do it. Many indigenous skills were lost."

Such circumstances necessitate a large-scale investment in training and education to fulfil positions at all levels in the oil and gas industry and other key sectors in order to ensure that the 100 million Arabs entering the job market in the next 20 years are able to find work.

Last month, Silatech, the British Council and the Qatari Students Network came together in Doha to launch a summit on youth unemployment in the region.

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