Promoting job creation for young people in multinational enterprises and their supply chains: Liberia
Promoting job creation for young people in multinational enterprises and their supply chains: Liberia
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
The world of learning and the world of work are separate but linked. While one involves learning, the other produces goods and services. Neither can thrive without the other. Strong partnerships between government, employers and workers help ensure the relevance of training to the changing needs of enterprises and labour markets.
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Matching skills to labour market demand requires reliable sectoral and occupational information and institutions that connect employers with training providers. Sector based strategies and institutions have proved effective in engaging all stakeholders in promoting both pre-employment training and life-long learning.
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.
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.
This paper examines the employment impact of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in Liberia. Its principal purpose is to explore the potential role that MNEs could play in creating more and better jobs.
Through dialogue with key stakeholders, it seeks to understand the major constraints on the recruitment of local youth. Among the questions addressed are:
• What types of jobs are currently found in MNEs and their supply chains?
• What are the prospects of creating more and better jobs through MNEs? Where does the future potential lie in terms of job prospects?
• What are the future skills needs?
• Do MNEs have a role to play in narrowing the “skills gap”?
The research focused on three priority sectors identified in the Government’s 2008 Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper - agriculture, mining and banking - which are also the sectors with the highest concentration of MNEs. Within each of the selected economic sectors, the study analyses: current job profiles, skills and other gaps; future job prospects; an assessment of the extent to
which MNEs are interested and/or willing to engage in broader youth employment challenges. It concludes with overall recommendations on the way forward.
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