Employment services that work for young people
Employment services that work for young people
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
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.
Helping young people acquire quality jobs that transition successfully into modern careers is of primary concern. The global economy is experiencing rapid changes: the youth unemployment rate is three times higher than that of adults. Nonetheless, there are important variations across regions. The consequences of poor transitions into a changing world of work can be observed in: long-term unemployed young people in developed countries; unemployed university graduates in emerging countries; and those in low-productivity family farms in low-income countries.
Employment services are one of the most cost-effective mechanisms to link jobseekers to available work. These services can be delivered by public, private, and non-government providers to all unemployed and active jobseekers. Assisting young people, however, often requires a combination of mainstream services and targeted approaches for a successful transition into employment.
This technical note underlines that making employment services effective involves tailoring the types and nature of these services to the different needs and circumstances of young jobseekers in accordance with their readiness for employment, as well as their personal aspirations. While pertinent to all employment services, this technical note is specific to countries with emerging and low-income economies, often faced with tight budgets, more limited institutional capacities, and a less developed offer of employment services and providers.
