By Manuel Urquidi

Do you remember how hard it was getting your first job? Well, imagine how much harder it would be if you came from a vulnerable group, facing the risk of social exclusion –either because you are a single mom, poor or indigenous- or if you do not know anyone who can help you! For that reason, several countries have created training programs which aim to help vulnerable groups find a job. But, which are the necessary elements to make these programs efficient? I believe there are three factors that play a key role to achieve success.

1. Give an opportunity to vulnerable groups with zero costs to the company. Over the past two years, the Bolivian Program of Employment Support (PAE) has trained over 3.000 youngsters, who have gotten jobs in industries such as aviation or new technologies. PAE provides support to participants of the program, paying them a salary during those months in which they are trained and covering moving expenses for companies. This is vital for population under social exclusion risk. Without such support, they cannot afford the luxury of investing three months in full time training. For example, let’s think about single moms who need to provide for their children, or the case of a young person who comes from a rural area and who is not capable of affording his stay in the capital while he is training. This basic salary is the key to prevent the training course from becoming an impassable barrier and become the first step in his professional career towards success.

2. Offer On-Site training, within the same company were qualified employees are needed. This enables very specific training, adapted to the company’s needs. This way, there are greater chances the businessman shall hire those who attend the course, if they can show they have learned the contents and develop an efficient work. Training becomes something similar to an internship or a trial contract with training included.

3. Designing a program closely to the business industry. The best way to achieve adequate training is to consider companies’ development and expansion needs. It is about correctly identifying the staff demands and design training programs that fit such needs. That is the way of getting recently trained workers to add value to companies and companies can offer those workers a contract.

In our region, there is still a long way to go to create labour opportunities and good jobs for everyone. Nevertheless, by investing in properly designed programs, we may built a better future.

Originally published in Spanish in http://blogs.iadb.org/trabajo/2014/10/23/buenos-trabajos-contra-la-exclusion/