Young people around the globe feel education systems aren't adequately preparing them for the working world, but do see opportunities in fields of social equity and innovation in green technologies and communications.
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) recently released the 2011 World Youth Report, which outlines views on employment from people aged 15 to 30. Some 1 100 contributions were received from around the world during the four-week online consultation process.
The economic recession has hit young people particularly hard, with an estimated 75.1 million worldwide struggling to find work at the end of 2010, according to the International Labour Organisation's 'Global employment trends for youth 2011' report. A discussion paper released by the National Treasury last year shows things are even worse locally, with about 42% of people under the age of 30 being unemployed, compared with less than 17% of adults over 30.
“Today we have the largest generation of young people the world has ever known,” said UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in the report's introduction. “They are demanding their rights and a greater voice in economic and political life.”
The report revealed one of the youth's main concerns was that current education systems are not preparing them adequately to compete in the job market.
“Young people questioned the quality of education they and their peers receive, whether or not it is relevant to available jobs, how their knowledge and skills will serve them in the long-term, and the extent to which decision-makers are committed to needed investment in the potential of young people,” the report said.
Youth were especially worried that the education they were receiving was overly theoretical, with the onus to acquire practical skills placed on them. “Today it should be easier to find a job because our generation is the most educated, but there is an inadequacy between the training offered and the needs of the labour market,” said Amadou, a Senegalese 24-year-old who participated.
Ina van der Merwe, CEO of intellectual risk management firm Managed Integrity Evaluation, says learning institutions are looking for more ways in which organisations can supply young students and graduates with what they call “experiential learning”.
“Organisations should get involved with this, as it means that more young people will be better equipped for the job market when they formally enter it.”
Apart from inadequate education and a lack of job opportunities, participants also identified poor working conditions and insufficient government investment as some of their main concerns.
Despite these obstacles, many participants were optimistic that they would be able to not only find employment, but also contribute to society,” says the UN.
The report showed that youth are looking to innovate in growing fields such as green technologies and communications, and identified environmental sustainability as a key opportunity for employment. Many said their ideal job would be to work in, or create, “green jobs”.
The report also shows that they are placing increasing importance on creating their own opportunities and becoming entrepreneurs, rather than being employed by large companies.
“Young people without qualifications are also taking initiative by working themselves up in an organisation,” notes Van der Merwe. “Even if they get employed in a very junior position, there is nothing that should stop them from developing within that organisation and working themselves up.”
Desperately seeking
The report found that young people are making use of a range of tools to help them find jobs, with formal and informal business and social networks proving to be the most valuable sources of career information and guidance.
“Social media is the way in which all young people will be networking and looking for employment in the not too distant future,” says Van der Merwe.
“Social networking is what links everyone to everyone else, and is a smarter, quicker way in which to get the word out that the job seeker is indeed in the market for employment,” she added. “With search capabilities, and with instant access at a click of a mouse, it is easier for job seekers to search for jobs, or for employers to search for prospective employees through Web-based services.”
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