We must get jobs for our youth
The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) has released the Ghana Social Development Outlook (GSDO) Report 2024, revealing that government initiatives to tackle youth unemployment since 2015 have been largely ineffective.
Employment initiatives, such as the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Youth in Agriculture Programme (YiAP), and Nation Builders Corps (NABCo), have ambitious objectives.
NEIP, for instance, aims to create at least 10,000 sustainable businesses annually through training, funding and mentorship.
While YiAP seeks to initiate youth into commercial farming, providing access to credit and improved incomes to drive food security and rural development, NABCo addresses graduate unemployment by developing youth skills across economic sectors and enhancing public service delivery.
However, the ISSER study reveals that these objectives have not been fully met, and quite frustratingly, despite these initiatives, youth unemployment remains a pressing issue.
The report identifies two main causes: a mismatch between skills acquired through training and labour market demands, and a shortage of job opportunities to accommodate the growing number of young people entering the workforce.
Furthermore, these initiatives often overlook youth interests, as training modules and job offerings are developed without input from the intended beneficiaries.
To address this issue, the report suggests a multifaceted approach, including education reform, private sector partnerships, pre-employment support, and promoting entrepreneurship.
By aligning education with labour market needs and providing relevant skills training, Ghana can better equip its youth for the job market. Additionally, encouraging entrepreneurship and creating more job opportunities can help absorb the growing number of young people entering the workforce.
The ISSER report highlights several concerns with government programmes aimed at addressing youth unemployment. While initiatives such as the NEIP and YiAP offer training, NABCO and others focus solely on job placement.
The report notes that training programmes primarily concentrate on agriculture and entrepreneurship, whereas job placement programmes often fail to provide decent jobs as defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The failure of the policymakers to take some of these issues into consideration during the formulation of the interventions is quite surprising.
Furthermore, delayed payments have led to beneficiary dissatisfaction, and the interests of young people are often not considered when designing training models or job opportunities.
This oversight contributes to the ineffectiveness of these programmes in addressing youth unemployment.
The study highlights the need for a reassessment of these programmes to ensure they effectively address the needs and aspirations of Ghana's youth.
The Daily Graphic reminds readers that during the 2024 General Election, both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) actively courted the youth.
The NDC, now the governing party, launched a 2024 Youth Manifesto and held a youth town hall meeting with then-candidate John Mahama, where they pledged to address youth challenges, particularly unemployment.
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) reports that about two million youth are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET). It is time for the government to fulfil its commitments to the youth.
The government, through the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, must make good its commitment to the youth of this country in the light of ISSER’s findings that employment initiatives have not worked.
Principally, the youth must be involved in these initiatives, as they live their situations and circumstances, daily.
They can bring to bear on youth development efforts dimensions that may not be readily obvious to policymakers.
Additionally, the government should strive for decent jobs that meet ILO standards and reset training curricula to suit labour market demands.
The Daily Graphic believes that tangible actions will give meaning to the government's expressions of goodwill towards the youth.
By prioritising youth development, the government can build a lasting legacy and fulfil its duty to the nation's young people.
