Global poverty and employment

facts & stats About World Poverty and Employment

Even under the best circumstances, no one likes job hunting — networking, résumé polishing and interview prep. For those living in poverty, the skills required to find employment can seem so overwhelming, their job search never begins and the cycle of poverty never ends. A lack of employment in these communities leads to an increase in gang affiliation, drugs, violence and early pregnancy. Your sponsorship or gift creates lasting change by providing access to life-changing career-readiness workshops that teach youth crucial skills needed to prepare for the workforce and to find and secure employment.

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  • 139 million youth (ages 15-24) are currently working in the labor force.

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  • 13% of the world’s youth (ages 15–24) are unemployed — that’s 74 million young people.

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  • For every year of schooling a woman completes, her earning potential goes up 20 percent.

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  • According to World Bank, some places around the globe still legally restrict women from having the same choice of jobs as men.

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Does 15 seem too young to have
a full–time job?

In many impoverished countries, youth drop out of school and enter the workforce, taking physically demanding jobs for little pay to help contribute at home.

TERMS TO KNOW: “INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT”?
Informal employment defines jobs, like day laborers, that aren't regulated, taxed or protected. Workers may face dangerous conditions, discrimination and unpaid wages if they choose to take on this type of employment. In Guatemala and Honduras, up to 80% of working youth (age 15–24) are informally employed and choose to do so out of necessity to help provide for their families.

Ready-Set-Grow

Our programs prepare youth to take on in-demand jobs in their communities. Workshops and programs teach our youth how to search for a job, networking skills, résumé building and interview prep tips.

Learn more about Employment

Sources

  • World Bank Employment Policy Primer, 2010
  • UN WESO, 2015
  • UN FAO, 2014
  • World Bank eLibrary. “Returns on Investments in Education,” 2002
  • UNESCO: EFA Global Monitoring Report, Youth and skills: Putting Education to Work, 2012

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