LESSON 1

Lesson 1
Strategie to Improve the Integration of Young People into the Labor Market

Labor market integration is the ability of the youth or a young person holding a stable job, usually a permanent, full time job with pay and position providing a close fit to the individual’s type and level of skills and endowment. To improve the integration of young people into the labor market, NGOs, private entities and government agencies should place greater emphasis, time and attention on the five basic pillars of the youth work below:

  • Empowerment
  • Education 
  • Participation 
  • Inclusion 
  • Expressiveness 
  • Entrepreneurial and 
  • Vocational skills

 

These five pillars of youth work can be successfully achieved through informal and non-formal learning techniques or methodologies. It supports wider learning, development and also increases young people participation in society and community development.

10.1. Youth Labor Market Integration Measures 

The main features of youth labor market integration measure or approaches that have been more effective than others are as follows.

10.2. Labor Market Training

The labor market training will provide young participants with practical, vocational and core employability skills required by the youth to be productive and competitive in the labor market, and can lead to a recognized qualification. Training programmes have the best outcomes when they target young people with low skills, competencies and work experience who have spent time out of work, in schools and have no previous work experience. The Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) programme, implemented by the president of Ghana in 2018 offered jobs to many young people in Ghana through the NABCO initiative. The NABCO is a three years programme which aim at giving requisite working skills and experience to the youth and give them permanent jobs after the end of the contract. 

11.0. Entrepreneurship and Start up Schemes

This will have significant and positive outcomes for young people combine vocational and business training with business development services and financial support (example; non-refundable grants, loans and fiscal incentive) as well as counseling, guidance and quality mentoring and coaching. Self employment or entrepreneurship promotion can have high employment potential and may meet young people’s aspirations (example; flexibility independence) and more effective if combined with financial and other services including mentoring. All these services can build youth work force and enhance their potential.

11.1. Traineeship Programmes

The success of traineeship programmes will depends on the youth close alignment with labor market needs, a balanced mix of learning and practical, work related experiences, good matching of young beneficiaries with host organizations, good quality support and mentoring, and the delivery of genuine learning.