World of Work Summit 2016

Questions addressed by the panel discussion on Decent Jobs for Youth

The panel will address the main challenges faced by youth looking for a job as well as solutions to reduce youth unemployment throughout the world. The first part of the exchange will be based firstly on four series of questions from Conference delegates focusing on the four angles presented below:

The youth employment challenge

  • Is the youth labour market situation really, radically different today compared to a decade ago? What are the main challenges - is it unemployment? Low earnings, informality, or temporary and uncertain employment?
  • What is the situation of young women in the labour market?
  • Does skills and education make a difference, given that we see such widespread emergence of educated unemployment?
  • Are skills mismatches the real issue? Is it really because of technology that we have such levels of skills mismatches?

Solutions

The 2012 ILO Call for Action proposed multipronged approaches in policy areas. We see a plethora of commitments and youth employment programmes.
  • Are the measures taken to date up to the challenge?
  • Do we know what works to improve labour market outcomes for young people? Do we have sufficient evidence?
  • How important is the context: For whom does it work? Where?

Youth employment promotion: Shared responsibility and partnerships

  • What works: public policy? The private sector? Public-private partnerships? Community organizations? National- local partnerships?
  • What can you do on your return from Geneva, from your national, sectoral, company or trade union perspectives, to facilitate effective action and a positive impact on the promotion of decent jobs for youth?

Youth employment, the 2030 Agenda and the Global Initiative

  • How to build on the momentum of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in order to support this global priority?
  • How can we scale up action and impact?
  • How can we partner around the UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for youth?
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The 3 young panellists will also bring their own questions to the 3 constituents as to how they can respond to youth concerns on decent jobs and the ILO.

The panel discussion will be complemented by live interviews with a young refugee, Ms Fartun Abass Osman (Somalia) as well as a young person who has experienced internal displacement, Ms Saila Zailuaga (Colombia).

A short video featuring the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth will be presented before the final remarks by the panellists.