Conclusions of the UN World Youth Report 2011

The United Nations e-discussion on youth employment held from 11 October to 7 November received approximately 1,100 comments from young people around the world.

Their contributions addressed various aspects of overcoming challenges to finding decent work, better aligning educational systems and skills development with labour market needs, as well as the social implications of employment trends on the lives of young people.

Young people view many higher educational systems and institutions as inadequately tailored to the actual dynamic needs of the labour market. More and better linkages are therefore needed between learning institutions and employers. Participants attached value to vocational education as a means for job preparedness.

Young people also highlighted that leadership qualities must be developed (not only to foster empowerment but also to fuel innovative solutions to youth employment challenges) and that it is important to encourage young people to be proactive in pursuing their livelihood aspirations.

Participants identified emerging opportunities for youth employment in new types of jobs in the fields of information and communication technologies (ITCs), social networking and environmental sustainability (“green jobs”).

Young people identified the creation of small- and medium-sized enterprises as an important and effective means to overcome high unemployment rates and poor working conditions. In fact, the majority of participants noted a growing number of young entrepreneurs starting their own businesses – some out of choice and others due to a lack of other employment options – with many examples of success and promise, including in social entrepreneurship. However, young people also noted that practical information and guidance on entrepreneurial initiatives as well as financing opportunities are often difficult for them to access. Governments and the private sector should ensure that information is widely available to all segments of the youth population and support those social groups which experience the most difficulties in accessing and completing education, such as young women.

The participating young people highlighted that young women in particular confront barriers to employment, including job segregation and salary discrimination.