Finding a job requires having greater skills for using technology since childhood, says the OIJ; employers consider that language knowledge is the scarcest skill.

By: Ivonne Vargas

MEXICO CITY (CNNExpansión) — Training young people in those skills demanded by employers is a priority for universities. This is one of the conclusions that emerged in the International Encounter “Youth and Post 2015 schedule” which took place in Veracruz. In such event, young people from several countries that are part of the Latin American Organization of Youth (OIJ) and companies’ representatives made a proposal with objectives that shall be presented to the United Nations Organizations for further discussion.

“Jobs exist. However, vacancies are not covered because people are not properly trained. Several studies show that out of 100 people trained, only 10% get hired. Technological skills are something that companies look for but cannot find”, said during an interview Leonardo Ortiz Villacorta, citizenship & public affairs director of Microsoft Corp.

In a labour scenery where, according to ILO, 7.8 million young persons are looking for a job and cannot find it, participants of the event suggested using technology in order to accelerate the development of certain skills and abilities from an early age and to create policies to generate better labour spaces.

According to Manpower Group’s “Talent Shortage Survey”, 26% of employers in Latin America, state that the most difficult skill to cover is the capacity of handling information technology, while the scarcest is languages knowledge.

Achieving that young people find a job is a major challenge, as the lack of options may lead this sector to delinquency. They rather “live three years as kings, though they know there is a very high risk of dying within the next few months”, pointed out Alejo Ramírez, general secretary of the OIJ.

As regards unemployment, conditions are diverse according to the socioeconomic and education level of the youngster. Unemployment rate for people between 14 and 24 years old is lower in basic educational levels as they are willing to accept low wages, stated Eduardo Loría Díaz, who is part of the Centro de Modelística y Pronósticos Económicos (Cempe) of the Economy Faculty of the UNAM.

Around 5% of the unemployed youth population correspond to popular sectors; 65% corresponds to medium socio-economic levels and 30% to the high levels, according to estimations generated by Cempe.

Those people with secondary or superior education do not want that wage condition, but must deal with the fact of not finding anyone desiring to hire them due to their lack of experience. With such scenery it becomes crucial to train but also to improve wage policies, said the UNAM’s researcher.

The goals

The Millennia’s Agenda does not contemplate technology as a resource to develop skills. “Internet access and computer was not so important before, but today it is necessary to formalize technological education the same way biology or other subjects are taught”, indicated Ortiz Villacorta.

The technological firm’s representative referred to some of the points that are part of the final agenda of Youth Policies Post 2015, which will be delivered to the UN.

1. General access to technology and using such resource to develop skills since primary school. Providing free Wi-Fi, devices and basic training on information technology for stundets and teacher in every public school.

2. Teaching one subject on computer programming during a semester within the eight grade (between 13 to 14 years old) to create interest in the area. Create courses oriented to science, technology, engineering or mathematics, as well as a platform for innovation and entrepreneurship, since early ages.

3. Teach a subject on business administration during the last year of high school, so that young people are encouraged to create their own business.

4. Extend these policies on students who attend community centres, technical schools or public vocational centres; for such young people it is vital to create professional training opportunities.

Column originally published by CNNExpansion