If the child population is declining and the working-age population is growing, which additional condition is important for realizing a demographic dividend?

Correct answer: Productive employment and skills

A declining child population and a growing working-age population create a favourable demographic window, but they do not automatically create economic growth. The larger working-age group must be able to participate productively in the economy. This requires good schooling, relevant vocational and technical skills, adequate health, equal opportunity, and enough decent jobs.

Productive employment is especially important because otherwise a large working-age population may remain unemployed or underemployed. In that situation, the potential demographic dividend can be lost and may create social and economic pressure instead. High unemployment, low education, and poor health services work against the dividend rather than supporting it. Therefore, choice A gives the necessary additional condition.