Youth Employment Research Articles

Effect of a youth-led early childhood care and education programme on children's development and learning in rural Sindh, Pakistan (LEAPS): a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised implementation trial.

In low-income and middle-income countries, an estimated 181·9 million (74·6%) preschool-aged children do not receive adequate nurturing care in health, nutrition, protection, learning, and responsive care, thus jeopardising their healthy development across the life course. Working alongside the health sector, multisectoral actions including social protection and education are necessary to achieve child health and development outcomes. Innovations are needed to expand access to high-quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) for young children and opportunities for youth development. Youth Leaders for Early Childhood Assuring Children are Prepared for School (LEAPS) is a two-generation programme that trains female youth aged 18-24 years to deliver ECCE. We evaluated the effectiveness of LEAPS to improve children's school readiness when delivered at scale in rural Pakistan. We implemented a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial with three steps from Dec 3, 2018, to June 30, 2021. 99 villages (clusters) in four districts in rural Sindh, Pakistan, were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to introduce LEAPS across three steps. Eligible clusters were those that had a feeder primary school run by the National Commission for Human Development, a department of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training; were safe; had space for a LEAPS preschool; could identify a female youth to deliver the ECCE service; and had not previously participated in the pilot study. Government partners trained female youth, aged 18-24 years, to provide community-based ECCE, enrolling up to 20 children, aged 3·5-5·0 years, per class. Population-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted at baseline and after each step for children who were eligible if they resided in the cluster, were aged 4·5-5·5 years at the time of the survey, and without any severe clinical health conditions or disability. The primary outcome was children's school readiness using the International Development and Early Learning Assessment (IDELA) composite score comprising emergent numeracy, emergent literacy, socio-emotional development, and motor skills. An intention-to-treat analysis was conducted, using linear mixed models accounting for clustering and the stepped-wedge design. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03764436). LEAPS was implemented in 91 of 99 villages. In eight clusters, a LEAPS preschool could not be set up. For the intervention programme, the average enrolment of children in a LEAPS preschool was 19 (SD 3, range 12-20). A total of 3858 children (n=3852 with complete IDELA data) were assessed across the four survey rounds conducted between Jan 1, 2019, and March 31, 2021. LEAPS increased school readiness (standardised mean difference: 0·30 [95% CI 0·20-0·40]; p<0·0001) as compared with the control condition. LEAPS offers a scalable solution to expand access to high-quality ECCE and promote children's school readiness while providing employment for female youth in rural Pakistan and settings with similarly low ECCE participation. Dubai Cares; and Saving Brains, Grand Challenges Canada. For the Urdu translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Reconceptualizing the youth and waithood notions: African youth agency and rural livelihoods in artisanal and small-scale mining

This paper seeks to revisit the notion that Africa's youth are caught up in waithood by providing empirical data and critical analysis of the perspectives of youth engaged in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). Drawing on in-depth qualitative interviews from multiple episodes of research in Ghana, we offer seven (7) key findings to argue that the situation of African youth is far more complex and nuanced than the simple portrayal that they are stuck in waithood – i.e. unable to enter the formal labor market to attain respectful adulthood. Thus, our findings offer three (3) perspectives which reflect better the reality of the African youth, enabling us to reconceptualize waithood experiences: Time-bound waithood or waithood temporality, Survival-hood, and Ensnared waithood. The time-bound waithood or waithood temporality reflects a situation where the youth choose to participate in informal sector activities like ASM as a temporal livelihood strategy or as a transition process while negotiating access to well-paid jobs in the formal sector that offer job security. The survival-hood is where youth assert their individual and collective agency to participate in informal sector jobs (in this case, ASM operations) as a survival mechanism, reflecting different livelihood possibilities and complementarities. The ensnared waithood reflects the situation where some youths are caught up in a web of their socialization process or enculturation which implants in their minds that good jobs are those of formal sector or salaried employment which are primarily based in the urban economy. From these perspectives, we argue that waithood is both a process (i.e. transitional) and an end in itself depending on the situation in which the youth perceive formal labor jobs and the willingness to utilize their agency to create their own work or secure informal sector jobs amidst structural constraints or neoliberal policies inhibiting employment for young people in the formal labor market. Based on our findings, we develop a Youth agency outcome framework(YAOF) which highlights how structural constraints (such as government policies, neoliberal policies, social norms and regulations within an economic sector) serve as an impediment to formal sector employment for tertiary graduates (educated youths). The framework further highlights how structural constraints trigger the utilization of capital assets in determining and influencing youth agency in the exploration and subsequent participation in informal sector jobs like ASM and the associated outcomes – such as financial independence, sustainable income, economic support for family members, marriage, and household formation – for the youths involved in the economic activity. Our findings provide critical implications for youth employment policies, interventions, and programs in Africa.

Measuring the Effectiveness of Policies on Employment from 2008-2024 in Spain Using a New Methodology

This study evaluates the effectiveness of employment policies implemented in Spain from 2008 to 2024, utilizing an innovative methodology adapted from Adekanbi (2024). Spain's labor market faced significant challenges, including high unemployment, labor market segmentation, and skill mismatches, particularly during and after the 2008 financial crisis. The research employs econometric modeling to analyze the relationship between unemployment rates, labor force participation, and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita over various policy periods identified through structural change detection. Key findings reveal the impact of major reforms, including the 2012 labor market restructuring, youth employment initiatives, and digital and green economy training programs. Results indicate varying effectiveness across policy periods, with unemployment and labor force participation significantly influencing GNI per capita. Recommendations emphasize prioritizing industrial sector revitalization, aligning policies with technological advancements, and diversifying the economy to address persistent unemployment and labor shortages. This comprehensive analysis underscores the need for balanced economic strategies to foster resilience and long-term growth in Spain's labor market.

The Influence of Emotional Competencies on the Entrepreneurship Intentions of University Students in Colombia

The main objective of this article is to analyze the effect of a group of predictors on entrepreneurial intention from the perspective of emotional competencies. To achieve this aim, a sample of 996 students belonging to ten public and seven private universities was selected, with each university having been granted high-quality accreditation by the Colombian Ministry of Education. The theoretical approach was based on Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and the empirical analysis was based on structural equation models. Eight hypotheses were tested, with entrepreneurial intention as the dependent variable and emotional competencies, subjective norms, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial attitude as independent variables. The information was obtained by applying a questionnaire with a Likert scale to students of subjects related to entrepreneurship. From the findings of the study, it is concluded that in the two ecosystems analyzed (public and private), emotional competencies (EC) have neither a direct influence on entrepreneurial intention (EI) nor an indirect one since no significant influence is observed between emotional competencies and entrepreneurial attitude; however, a direct and positive effect was recorded between the self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitude constructs on entrepreneurial intention. In addition, it is observed that subjective norms (SN) do not directly affect EI, but they do influence it indirectly, being mediated by entrepreneurial attitude and self-efficacy. The contribution of this study is focused on obtaining a better understanding of the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Colombia, which will make it possible to foster strategies for the generation of youth employment and public policies to promote various entrepreneurial initiatives. This could be based on government regulations adopted in the last decade, which are still under development, and the broad participation of university students and research groups of higher education institutions. Furthermore, given the dearth of research examining the impact of emotional competencies on the entrepreneurial intentions of young Colombian university students, this study aims to bridge the existing knowledge gap, thereby contributing to the development of a more robust body of literature that can inform the design and implementation of educational strategies and public policies aimed at fostering entrepreneurship within the university ecosystems of this country.

Do Youth Work in Agriculture? Short-Term Dynamics of on-Farm Rural Youth Employment in Tanzania and Malawi

We examine the short-term dynamics of on-farm rural youth employment in Tanzania and Malawi and its implications for development policy. Employment dynamics are assessed as the mobility between on-farm and off-farm occupations using nationally representative longitudinal data from four periods between 2010 and 2021. Most of the rural youth engaged in farming with high stability over time. In both countries, about 85 per cent of rural youth engaged in farming in 2010/11 and a significant majority remained in farming in subsequent periods. On-farm employment of female youth was more stable than that of males; it was higher and more stable for those owning land. We also discovered a considerable mobility of youth between on-farm and off-farm occupations, but the movement into on-farm employment outpaced the movement out of it. While the high stability of on-farm employment may be explained by underemployment or poor prospects in the non-agricultural sector, the considerable inter-sector mobility reflects the significantly diverse livelihood strategies of rural youth. Policies to employ and keep youth in agriculture while supporting their economic diversification strategies are needed to strengthen the sector and the broader rural economy by improving youth access to critical resources, and an enabling environment.

Youth Employment Challenges and Opportunities in Pakistan: An Econometric Analysis

The involvement of young people in Pakistan's job market is the subject of this dissertation. This work highlights two main benefits of the research conducted using micro data. First, it breaks out the labor market behaviors of teenagers in Pakistan by age group. Then, using econometric approaches, it explains what variables influence youth work chances in Pakistan. According to the research, several young people start working at a young age, which may affect their future productivity and income. At the beginning of their professions, young people frequently have a higher unemployment rate; nevertheless, this number decreases with time. In addition, there were notable disparities in the labor market outcomes for male and female teenagers based on area. Unemployment rates for young women are higher than those for young men in several regions of the nation. Although young people in Baluchistan are more prepared to enter labor than their counterparts in other regions, the study's main conclusion shows that their employment prospects are poorer. Several characteristics, the findings of a logistic regression analysis demonstrate that the job chances of youth in Pakistan are highly impacted by age, gender, marital status, emigration, geography, educational achievement, and family characteristics. In addition, studies show that Pakistani teenagers are a heterogeneous group, reflecting a wide variety of personal traits and perspectives on employment that are influenced by their home context. Policymakers should see Pakistani youth as something other than a monolithic entity. Unemployment is a problem in Pakistan due to several factors.

Employment of young people with disabilities: The potential of social partnership of universities, municipalities and the labor market of Ukraine.

This study analyzed the existing global experience of university and labor market partnerships concerning the employment of youth with disabilities. It was found that current cooperation models are implemented locally, in a fragmented manner, and are limited to interactions between universities and large enterprises. The research aimed to explore the current state of meeting the needs of students with disabilities in terms of providing educational services and employment opportunities and to analyze the interaction between universities, municipalities, and the labor market to improve employment opportunities for young people with disabilities. The study considered a survey of three target groups from different regions of Ukraine (105 students with disabilities, 321 university faculty members, and 102 enterprise managers) conducted to study the current state of needs satisfaction in providing educational services and employing people with disabilities. The findings indicated a lack of coordination among stakeholders, an absence of systematization, and organization in addressing the issue of improving the employment of youth with disabilities. The research enabled the identification of existing and desired connections between the subjects of social partnership. A social partnership model between universities, municipalities, and the labor market was developed to improve the employment of youth with disabilities. The study results are promising, as implementing the social partnership model will broadly impact society.

Factors of employment of graduates of higher educational institutions in Guinea

Employment of higher education graduates is a challenge for governments in both developed and developing countries. This article highlights factors that explain the professional integration of graduates leaving universities. This study demonstrates the variables influencing the employment of young tertiary graduates. The model used allows us to establish economic relationships between exogenous and endogenous variables. The variables are qualitative and dichotomous in nature with multiple modalities. The presented results allow us to determine which exogenous variable has a greater impact on the endogenous variable so that governments can consider it in youth employment policies. We also advise young graduates in terms of finding a job. The purpose of this study is to promote the professional integration of Guinean higher education graduates. The main objective is to identify the problems faced in the labour market by Guinean higher education graduates. Using SPSS software, we have obtained the following results: the higher the level of education, the greater the chances of finding a job; personal initiative gives a better chance of finding a job than any other method of finding a job; men have an advantage over women in terms of employment opportunities; married people are luckier than single people; those who have had a previous job are also more likely to find a job than those who have not had; graduates who have lived abroad are more likely to find a job than those who have not lived abroad.

Assessing the Effectiveness of TVET Training in Enhancing Youth Employability: A Case Study of Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract: TVET offers opportunities to equip youth with industry-relevant skills, bridging the gap between education and employment. However, challenges such as inadequate funding, outdated curricula, limited access to modern equipment, and negative perceptions hinder its potential. This study assessed the effectiveness of TVET training in enhancing youth employability n Kisumu County, Kenya. Social learning theory and Human capital theory were adopted. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The study targeted a population of 20,857 consisting of 20,814 TVET students, 42 Heads of TVET institutions and 1 County Education Officer in Kisumu County Government. The sample size was 379 determined using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula. Sampling was conducted by means of disproportionate stratified random sampling. Structured questionnaires and interview guide were used to collect data. Data analytical methods were content analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics. Linear relationships between variables were determined using Pearson`s Correlation analysis method. The correlational coefficient for youth employment was=0.57 implying a moderate positive relationship between TVET training and youth employability. Government as policy-maker was recommended to institute regular reform for reviewing the existing TVET curricula in order to incorporate feedback from students and adapt to emerging dynamics of demographic dividends. The Government should increase funding, resources for TVET Institutions: The government should allocate more financial resources to TVET institutions to enhance infrastructure and support the development of industry-relevant programs and strengthen industry partnerships and collaborations between TVET institutions and industries to ensure that training programs are aligned with current labor market demands.

Education and Economic Empowerment: How Political Policies Shape the Future of Youth Employment

This article examines the complex interactions that exist between political policy, economic empowerment, and education, with a particular emphasis on how these interactions may affect young employment in the future. Education is essential in today’s dynamic global economy because it gives young people the skills they need to succeed in the workforce. However, the political climate frequently affects how well educational programs promote economic empowerment. Through an analysis of labour market regulations, youth employment initiatives, and national education reforms, this research illustrates how political frameworks impact access to high-quality education and chances for economic success. The article highlights the main obstacles to and prospects for achieving employment requirements alignment between educational achievements and case studies from industrialized and developing countries via a critical examination. To encourage youth-centric policies that support inclusive, egalitarian, and sustainable economic growth, the study ends with recommendations for policymakers.

Investigate the Causes of High Unemployment Rate in Youth Labour Market in China

Abstract: The objective of this research is to examine the consequences and issues of youth employment in China. This issue has been encountered by the public in recent years as the unemployment rate increases per year according to reputable resources in China. Nonetheless, there is a high tendency to get even higher in the next few years if no action is taken place by the government. Thus, it becomes important for public to understand the causes triggering this high unemployment rate among college students. In this essay, it seeks to examine the multiple issues of youth unemployment in China, and provides an understanding of the issues and challenges faced in the youth labour market through analyzing the data from resources such as the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and other authoritative websites. This essay will also advise some possible strategies that can be used to reduce the high unemployment rate in the country.

Streamlining Complex Intervention Evaluation Through Participatory Systems Mapping and Contribution Analysis: A Comprehensive Framework for Actionable Complexity Evaluation

The use of complexity-based evaluation methods remains relatively underexplored in the field of evaluation. While increasingly employed to assess complex interventions, Contribution Analysis (CA) continues to suffer from a lack of operationalization. In this article, we propose enhancing the implementation of CA by leveraging Participatory Systems Mapping as a tool to delineate and scrutinize contribution narratives. The research has a dual objective. It aims to experiment with the recently introduced Participatory Systems Mapping method in the field of evaluation while providing a tool for examining contribution narratives. The combination of CA and Participatory Systems Mapping was tested by evaluating a youth employability project. This approach enabled a collaborative and in-depth examination of impact stories and alternative explanations. It proved valuable not only in managing the complexity of the intervention but also in strengthening the implementation of CA.

Using a Phenomenological and Fanon Analytic: A Methodological Framework and Method for Research with Impoverished Black Male Youth

While there is a good amount of general literature on the experiences of Black men in Canada, there is a paucity of empirical data regarding the specific lived experiences of first- and second-generation, Canadian-born, impoverished Black young men (ages 15–29). Black male youth are often impoverished due to anti-Black racism and classism, which together further social and economic barriers. While many methods of data collection and analysis provide a useful snapshot of the experiences of young Black men, many traditional methods are unable to highlight the nuance that lies in complex intersections of identity for Black young men experiencing poverty and un(der)employment. This article demonstrates the success of practices rooted in phenomenology to understand and articulate the unique, heterogeneous lived experiences of first- and second-generation impoverished Black young men who utilize youth employment training programs in three Canadian cities. Further, this article demonstrates how using Frantz Fanon’s scholarly work and applied phenomenology can inform future research on Black and other underserved youth who face complex marginalization.

Features of Youth Employment in the Labor Market

The article considers the difficulties young people face in finding employment: high level of competition among specialists without experience, lack of necessary work in regions and forced migration of young job seekers to major cities, mismatch between education and labor market expressed in lack of necessary competences of graduates or unwillingness to work in their profession. The article also considers the main factors influencing the process of employment of young professionals and their choice of profession. It analyzes the difference between the initial salary levels in different professional fields and regions and their subsequent differentiation during the career. The opinion of young job seekers regarding their own position in the labor market is assessed: their evaluation of the difficulty and criticality of employment at the moment, readiness to reduce salary requirements, to seek part-time work and fear of quitting their current job. The article draws conclusions about the main problems hindering the employment of young job seekers in the labor market and the factors contributing to the growing shortage of young professionals in certain sectors of the economy.

Effects of Innovative Technologies on Gender Disparity and the Future of Work

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has prompted organizations to embrace digital transformation, demanding that employees possess ICT technical skills to boost productivity. In developing countries, a lack of ICT education exacerbates high youth unemployment, particularly among gender-disadvantaged individuals who struggle to secure jobs requiring digital literacy. This study investigates the factors contributing to the gender disparity of youth unemployment in South Africa. The study adopted the Technology Acceptance Theory to guide the study. The quantitative method was used for the data collection process using Google Forms to draft a questionnaire that was distributed to respondents online. The study results show the importance of ICT technical education to improve youth employment prospects and recommend that policymakers implement ICT skills development initiatives to mitigate youth unemployment.

IMPLIKASI KAWASAN WISATA TERHADAP PEREKONOMIAN DESA PUJON KIDUL

This study aims to determine the methods used by BUMDes Sumber Sejahtera to improve the economy of the community in Pujon Kidul Village by looking at the unemployment rate, income, and type of work owned by the community. This research uses qualitative methods with data collection through interviews and documentation. The results of the study explain that the tourist area, namely Cafe Sawah, has an impact on village funds in the allocation of funds, provides employment for youth in the village, and has a positive impact on bad habits, namely drunkenness, gambling, and others. It can be said that the tourist area in Pujon Kidul Village, especially Cafe Sawah, has a majorimpact on the existing economy and socio-culture.

Несовершеннолетний работник как субъект трудовых отношений: риски дискриминации в отечественном и зарубежном праве

The article discusses some aspects of labor relations with minors. The current legal agenda shows that the state pays great attention to supporting youth employment and the employment of minors. At the same time, there is a danger of discrimination against minors by the employer due to low legal literacy and excessive credulity of this segment of employees. On the other hand, the problem also lies in the employer's doubt about the risks that must be taken when employing a young employee. When analyzing the foreign legislation of some states, complex approaches to determining a specific list of specialties or areas of employment are found to be imperfect.

Youth involvement in rice production: A panacea for youth restiveness in Anambra State, Nigeria

There is a great concern about youth restiveness due to growing unemployment in Nigeria, whereas agriculture is a huge business space with the potential for youth involvement and employment. The study sought to ascertain the level of youths' involvement in rice production in Anambra State, Nigeria. Eighty youths were purposively selected because of the preponderance of rice production in the area. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and were analysed using mean, standard deviation, and multiple linear regression. The study revealed that youths were into the planting of rice seedlings, buying and selling of seedlings, harvesting, and fertilizer application. Sex and level of education significantly influenced youths' involvement in rice production. The youths were constrained majorly by the high cost of inputs, and lack of funds to expand production. Adequate and comprehensive training on rice production and enforcement of practical agriculture curricula in schools were identified as possible strategies for improving youths' involvement in rice production. The study concluded that youth were into rice production though influenced by their level of education and sex. The government should make rice production attractive to the youth by eliminating the constraining factors associated with it.

Impact of entrepreneurial incubators on youth employment in South African local government

Background: Unemployment has been the central socioeconomic issue in South Africa since the democracy in 1994. As a result, the nation’s unemployed youth continue to be at risk in the job market. In the quest for alternatives, youth entrepreneurship has been acknowledged as a crucial strategy for empowering youth through innovation and technology.Aim: This study sought to analyse the impact of innovative entrepreneurial incubators (IEIs) in fostering youth employment within Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality.Setting: This study was conducted within the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality to analyse the effectiveness of IEIs in supporting young entrepreneurs, thus increasing employment opportunities for the youth in South Africa.Methods: A sample of 20 semi-structured open-ended interviews was conducted, and thematic coding was used for data analysis.Results: The study found that there are several challenges pertaining to the effective implementation of IEIs to foster youth employment in South African municipalities. This is attributed to a lack of funding and educational programmes.Conclusion: The main recommendation is that all municipalities must establish IEIs and devise strategies to ensure that these are implemented effectively.Contribution: This study contributes to improved municipal governance through providing innovative mechanisms that foster effective and efficient implementation of IEIs in South African local government. This contribution aims to ensure that municipalities discharge their constitutional mandate to improve citizens’ standard of living through IEIs, especially in areas with high youth unemployment.

Is a single minimum wage policy viable option? Evidence from the impact of minimum wage on youth employment in Malaysia

The present study is aimed to identify an ideal mechanism to reduce negative effect of minimum wage on youth employment generation. Using available data from Department of Statistics, the study runs an annual panel regression at the state level based on fixed effect specification model. The finding demonstrates that the minimum wage has a negative effect on employment, particularly among youth. It implies that there is an excess of labour supply in the market at the current wage rate. As a result, the rate set is higher than equilibrium, signifying firm disadvantages. The negative effect is more prevalent if the single national minimum wage rate policy is applied to all states. Therefore, the national wage policy should be thoroughly examined. Instead, a regional wage rate should be explored as a potential solution for mitigating and preventing negative employment effects.