Over 40 private sector companies met with UNICEF today to discuss training opportunities and other pathways to improve the chances for young people in Jordan to get employed.
Jordan has a youthful population with 70 per cent of the population below the age of 30. However, despite high education levels, the International Labor Organization (ILO) projects youth unemployment in Jordan to be nearly 31 percent, more than double the world average (World Bank DataBank, 2016. Web.). Unemployment of young Jordanian women and Jordanian youth in rural areas is even higher, as is unemployment in governorates with high populations of Syrian refugees (“Informally Employed Syrian Refugees, Working under Harsh Conditions, Further Strain Jordanian Labour Market.” News. 18 May 2015. Web).
UNICEF’s youth empowerment strategy, in partnership with the Government of Jordan, International Labour Organization, civil society and the private sector, aims at providing young people in Jordan, in particular the most disadvantaged youth, with the knowledge, skills and experience for them to have a better chance in becoming employed. It particularly include the following programmes for young people includes: 1.Life skills training; 2. Volunteering Incentives Programme 3. Vocational training and job mentoring.
With majority of jobs available in the private sector, UNICEF’s partnership with private sector companies in Jordan will be crucial for the strategy to succeed. For example, the Volunteer Incentives Programme (VIP) aims at making volunteer opportunities available to as many youth as possible through an online portal and mobile application. Youth can work in these companies as volunteers and earn points which can be converted to non-cash benefits like job reference letters, vocational training courses, gift vouchers, job counselling / mentoring and even direct employment.
Original source: UN Children’s Fund.
Posted on 12 October 2017
