Joint release of the United Nations labor agency, ILOUnited Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was released before two-day meeting in Amman, Jordan, aims to address the youth transition from study to work, a key priority for adolescents and young adults across the vast Arabic-speaking region.
Exchange good practices
Regional high-level meeting on Learning, skills training, integration and work of young people, took place over two days, bringing together government officials from the key sectors, the private sector and the United Nations, in dialogue with young people themselves to facilitate the exchange of good practices.
“Current education system and program” unsuitable for the growing labor market and the changing nature of work. They don’t provide young people with the skills that are crucial to succeed in today’s economy.” declare speak.
Skills such as communication, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and cooperation are still lacking in the skill sets of many young people.
According to the agencies, “Well-educated, skilled youth can foster positive change towards a world that suits them, promotes and protects their rights”.
Inequality and Vulnerability
Youth continue to face many challenges in the region – especially those living in poverty or in rural areas; refugees, displaced persons, migrants, girls and young women; and people with disabilities; who are more likely to drop out of school and be left behind.
According to United Nations data, before COVID-19 During the pandemic, the region has dropped more than 14 million children from school and has one of the lowest return-to-education rates in the world. Furthermore, the pandemic has deepened the education crisis and exacerbated existing inequalities.
Potential unemployment risk
Youth unemployment in these countries is almost twice the world average and has grown 2.5 times faster than the world average between 2010 and 2021.
These figures show a significant drain on the economic potential of the region. Reduce the overall unemployment rate to 5% and to be able to attract large numbers of young people into the workforce and stabilize youth unemployment, the region needs to create more than 33.3 million new jobs by 2030.
Around the world, the recovery of the global job market is also happening in reverse, ILO, say on mondayblame COVID and “many other crises” for increasing inequality within and between countries.
According to the latest update on the world of work, there are 112 million fewer full-time jobs today than there were before the pandemic.
Expected results
The regional meeting aimed to address means of strengthening links between learning and the labor market.
These include strengthening the education system – including skills, technical and vocational education and training – strengthening links between learning and the labor market; strengthen policies and seek opportunities with the private sector to create jobs and support youth entrepreneurship.
“Youths need life skills education to help them discover and nurture positive values of health, rights, family, relationships, gender roles and equality, and empower them shape their lives and make informed decisions about their reproductive lives,” the agencies emphasized.
This event will provide recommendations from Arab Countries/Middle East and North Africa Region for United Nations Secretary-General’s Global Summit on Education Transformation in September 2022.
