Welcome to the United Nations
Jobs for youth.
The United Nations strategy for policy-makers: tackle poverty by promoting job-creation and entrepreneurship for youth around the world.
This year the number of unemployed youth globally is expected to reach 71 million, with young people three times more likely to be unemployed than adults.The Second Committee of the General Assembly met at UN Headquarters in New York last week to examine strategies to eradicate poverty through youth employment and entrepreneurship.
Addressing the committee, Ms Daniela Bas, Director of the DESA’s Division for Social Policy and Development, cited the recent appointment of Werner Faymann as Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Youth Employment as an indication of the UN’s direction.
Ms Bas emphasised the importance of addressing youth unemployment in order to achieve the 2030 agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) 1: to end poverty, and SDG 8: promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Delegates heard that the average amount of time for a young person to find decent work once leaving school was approximately 20 months. The importance of transitioning from childhood to adulthood with decent work is imperative to a young person’s well-being.
A presentation of Solomon Islands – Youth at Work by Leituala Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago-Elisara Director of the Social Development Program at the Pacific Community, on Policies in the Pacific highlighted the value of engaging students in work readiness skills including resume building, practical skills and working with mentors. The program achieved a 39% success rate, however there are still challenges facing the Pacific in this area including lack of job creation and low private-sector investment.
A similar challenge was explored by Beatrice Ayuru, Youth Entrepreneur; Lira Integrated Schools Uganda. Ms Ayuru identified the lack of government investment in youth entrepreneurs as the greatest hurdle. Her message was for government and private entity to take a risk on youth.
Although barriers are experienced in addressing youth unemployment, we are heading in the right direction, as emphasised by Chris Eiegland, young entrepreneur employing more than 50 young people and Australian Youth Delegate to the UN. He spoke his online company Go1 provides training to participants around the world, explaining that the use of technology to access education is a great way to upskill youth.
All panelists noted that we are moving away from the traditional solution of job creation to an environment where entrepreneurship is a viable and fulfilling option for young people, and should be embraced. The event demonstrated that there are successful strategies in motion and that with good implementation and strong leadership we are on the right path to ceasing youth unemployment.
Copyright & source UNDESA DSPD