Decent Jobs for Youth & Generation Unlimited launch new knowledge facility: YouthForesight
English
ILO
The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org
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.
Other knowledge products
Global launch of the YouthForesight knowledge facility
YouthForesight will serve as a one-stop-shop providing curated publications, databases, tools, and multimedia resources to support evidence-based action on young people’s education and skilling, employment, entrepreneurship, and engagement.
Hosted by GenU and DJY, the platform will be a one-stop-shop for development practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and young people themselves to learn and share about youth education, skilling, employment, entrepreneurship, and engagement through curated tools, data, and resources. Through a simple sign-up feature, YouthForesight allows partners to share knowledge resources, gain visibility, and tap into a network of stakeholders dedicated to creating positive change for young people.
DJY and GenU share a common vision to enhance the future prospects of young people and aspire towards multi-stakeholder engagement that boost action and impact for youth. The alignment of efforts was strengthened through the Memorandum of Understanding between ILO and UNICEF signed last year. In addition to the What Works? A Guide to Action jointly launched last summer, the YouthForesight is another example of the collaboration between DJY and GenU along with the partners. Going forward, the two initiatives will continue to join forces to ensure coordinated results for and with young people globally.
Click here to visit the new platform.