Jobs for the 21st Century: Synthesis Paper

By Caroline Fawcett, Roehl Briones, and Aiken Tafgar

The Jobs for the 21st Century Initiative, a project under the Asia and Near East Bureau of the U. S. Agency for International Development, provides support in assessing and planning job creation and youth workforce programs and policies in select countries of the Asia Near East region. The assessments focused on Asia, specifically Cambodia, India, Indonesia (Aceh and nearby provinces), the Philippines (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao), and Sri Lanka, as well as additional cross-country research. This report synthesizes the findings of these studies, analyzing the main reasons for unemployment in the above five countries and the implications for future development programs. The methodology used for this analysis draws on two types of data: cross-country key indicators related to unemployment, job creation and workforce; and specific examples from the five country assessments. The analysis covers four main areas: 1) Job creation and labor demand; 2) Demographic and labor supply—the characteristics of youth, new labor market entrants, and workers of the targeted areas; 3) Skills mismatch and shortages due to supply-side policies and institutions; and 4) Social networks and youth expectations.

Contact Info: Caroline Fawcett (2025723700 x3719)

Published by: U.S. Agency for International Development Order Info

Download a copy of Jobs for the 21st Century: Synthesis Paper (PDF, 4.09 MB): http://www.gwit.us/Products/USAID_SnthsisPaper_NEW3.pdf

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