Youth employment challenge and solutions: What business can do now
English
Employers' organizations
Employers invest in training in order to improve productivity, innovate and adopt new technologies, and compete in changing markets. Case studies and research from individual employers and associations of employers on the Global KSP deal with apprenticeship and workplace skills provision, quality assurance and governance of training institutions, and employers’ roles in anticipating skill needs and in influencing national and sector policies on skills development.
Youth employability
Globally, nearly 68 million young women and men are looking for and available for work, and an estimated 123 million young people are working but living in poverty. The number who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) stands at 267 million, a majority of whom are young women. Significantly, young people are three times as likely as adults (25 years and older) to be unemployed.
Skills development is a primary means of enabling young people to make a smooth transition to work. A comprehensive approach is required to integrate young women and men in the labour market, including relevant and quality skills training, labour market information, career guidance and employment services, recognition of prior learning, incorporating entrepreneurship with training and effective skills forecasting. Improved basic education and core work skills are particularly important to enable youth to engage in lifelong learning as well as transition to the labour market.
Research papers
Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues.
- Lack of information, networks, and connections;
- Lack of relevant skills;
- Lack of experience credentials, and;
- Lack of available entry-level jobs with career potential.
They also identified five groups of solutions that can be adopted by employers:
- Provide Career Guidance to youth and participate in information systems and programs;
- Engage with training-to-employment programs for youth;
- Engage with apprenticeship and experience programs;
- Commit to hiring, training and mentoring young people, and;
- Promote youth entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education.
In addition, ManpowerGroup also offered a number of examples of these solutions in action. It is their hope that this white paper will motivate action, imagination, and leadership by employers in helping youth realize their potential in the workplace.