New ILO’s Youth Job Fair in Toamasina, Madagascar

Toamasina (ILO News) – A two-day regional job fair targeting young women and men of Madagascar was launched today in Toamasina (North-East) under the auspices of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and its partners to address the burning issue of youth unemployment.

Like many African countries, Madagascar is facing a major youth unemployment crisis. The national labour market is characterized by the high proportion of young, poor and underemployed workers. Active young people aged 15-24 years face the greatest difficulties in entering the labour market. Three-quarters of the unemployed are under 30.

In view of this critical situation – where unemployment and underemployment of youth and women are affecting the economic growth of the country and the lives of millions - the ILO is supporting the acceleration of the economic recovery and the restoration of peace through youth employment in Madagascar where half of the population is under 20 years.

“It is time to take urgent action on youth employment”, Christian Ntsay, ILO Director of the Country Office in Antananarivo said while moderating an interactive dialogue on “Youth employment, key to sustainable development”.

The ILO’s Youth Job Fair held on the esplanade of the town hall of Toamasina (main regional seaport and the country’s commercial hub) aims to mobilize governments, the private sector and civil society about the importance of promoting youth employment, boosting the labour market, raising the profile of economic operators and stimulate the recruitment of young men and women as well as youth entrepreneurship. Dozens of companies in different sectors of the economy (tourism, port, telecommunications, industry, etc.) with potential near term job offerings have been identified, according to the ILO Country Office of Antananarivo which covers Indian Ocean countries.

It is part of a collective response to the lack of job opportunities, high levels of youth unemployment, skills mismatch in the labour market which makes it more challenging for the employability of the youth in Madagascar. The problem is severely affecting the Atsinanana Region with the demand for labour from the private sector is proving to be very low causing an immediate imbalance in the labour market.

In addition, the lack of strategies – labour market information systems - and actions for the promotion of self-employment also handicaps the region and its youth.

The major challenge now is to transform the Malagasy youth into an engine for peace and social justice through local development. This transformation must be done through initiatives promoting employment and education of the youth. Rapid and sustainable development, poverty reduction and peace building therefore require a dynamic contribution of this young generation who is now in an alarming situation.

For more detailed information, please contact Clara Ramaromanana, ILO Programming and Communication; Tel: +261 33 02 032 15; Email: [email protected]