An unemployment epidemic in the Middle East: what does it mean for America?

NOW ON PBS travels to Jordan to explore the implications of - and possible solutions to - having millions of young people out of work in the Middle East. Staggering unemployment rates among the region's massive youth population is fueling anger, frustration and resentment. To combat the problem, Jordan's Queen Rania has made job creation a top priority.

"To me the Middle East is about young people. And if we fail to create opportunities for them then you're going to see a lot of frustrated hope," Queen Rania tells NOW.

Another initiative comes from an unlikely source: a Brooklyn, New York, businessman who has set up programs across the region to give young people the real-world skills they desperately need to gain employment. Both have their work cut out for them: nearly 70 million jobs are needed in the Middle East by the year 2020, according to the World Bank.

Can these training programs help stem the tide or are they just a drop in the bucket? 

This show is part of "Enterprising Ideas," NOW's continuing spotlight on social entrepreneurs working to improve the world through self-sustaining innovation.

The NOW Web site at www.pbs.org/now  will offer behind-the-scenes photos from the journey and get insight on the Middle East marriage crisis.