‘Educated youths face difficulty in job search’

The educational gains girls have made in particular have not translated into increased employment opportunities, he said.

The report released more than 10 years after the adoption of the World Programme of Action for Youth, however emphasises that much progress has been made by governments, and especially by young people themselves, to promote the well-being of youth.

“All regions have made impressive achievements in raising school enrolment and more and more girls are going to school,” said Scholvink.

The report argues that the 1.2 billion young people in the world today are determined to engage in the social, political and economic fabric of society and have much to contribute to the global debate on major development and policy issues.

In fact, this is evident in their efforts to constantly improve their education, upgrade their skills and find employment through their use of information and communication technology and their participation in volunteer activities, it says.

However, the report notes that there are also major constraints to youth development that are prevalent in all regions, the primary one being the difficulty in finding decent employment in the formal sector.

As a result, the report states that many young people with high levels of education are forced to seek work in the informal economy, often at the expense of benefits or job security.

It is clear that while globalisation has offered many opportunities around the world, young people continue to face obstacles in accessing its benefits, noted Scholvink.

The focal point for youth, the report says, to the contraction of labour markets and to difficulty in the school-to-work transition across the world, in both developed and developing countries.

There seems to be some mismatch between the skills that young people gain in school and the skills that the labour market is demanding. In addition, the skills needed in today’s globalised job market are changing constantly.

The report calls on countries to address the obstacles that continue to limit youth participation in the development of their societies, and provide them with an environment in which they can access not only quality education but also decent work opportunities.

Societies, said Scholvink, should nurture and protect opportunities for youth to engage in development processes or risk losing the innovativeness, energy and dynamism of young people.

“Policies are needed to build youth potential and open doors for their participation in society, particularly in the areas of employment, civic engagement, political participation and volunteerism,” he said.

“Young people need to be seen and heard as active players on the development stage.”

Asked whether or not family planning was more available for youth, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Patience Stephens, Focal Point on Youth in the Division of Social Policy and Development, said that, while the report did not specifically address family planning, evidence from recent regional demographic and health surveys showed a change in young people’s use of contraception.

Data also showed a major transition towards lower family sizes. However, there was room for change and greater knowledge, especially regarding young women and HIV prevention.