GENEVA - July 17, 2024 - YMCA has published two reports to set out the challenge of – and a proposed response to – the global issue of employment, under-employment, and unemployment for young people.
The context of these reports is a world in which 1 in 5 young people are not in employment, education, and training [ILOSTAT, 2024]. This is also a world in which the lack of investment in creating education and work opportunities for young people could cost the global economy USD 83 trillion by 2030 [ILO].
“This research highlights the power of youth-led initiatives,” say Surafele Ashenafi and Bereket Estifanos, Meaningful Work Youth Champions at YMCA Ethiopia. “When young people are given the opportunity to lead and to voice their opinions, the results are not just insightful: they also pave the way for better and more inclusive methods of promoting meaningful work. This way, we help to create a generation that is driven, involved, and dedicated to its work.”
Surafele Ashenafi and Bereket Estifanos, Meaningful Work Youth Champions, YMCA Ethiopia
The challenge
In the first report - Crisis of Opportunity: Young people navigating the ‘New Work Order’ (44 pages) - young people state clearly that they are in distress, with limited access to work opportunities, real mental health challenges, and a lack of hope for their present and future. They tell us that our responses are failing them.
The report presents the findings of a collaboration between YMCA, the oldest and one of the largest youth empowerment organizations in the world, leading professional services firm Deloitte Australia, and world-renowned cloud-based platform ServiceNow.
At end-2023, the partners launched a global research survey led by young people, for young people, reaching over 10,000 young people aged 18-35 in over 120 countries worldwide. 45% of respondents were from under-represented groups.
The research revealed that:
- 4 in 10 young people do not have the right skills, qualifications, or experiences to enter into work or start up a business
- 3 in 10 young people are limited by poor social and economic conditions in their countries, and the same proportion do not have access to the right support to help them into work or business
- Young people’s work and wellbeing continue to be impacted by four Cs: COVID, conflict, climate change, and the cost of living
- Current programs and approaches to the challenge of youth unemployment are fractured: they do not meet young people’s needs, and limit their ability to reach their potential
- Young people aspire to do ‘Meaningful Work’, with safeguards, enriching and empowering work experiences, that bolster their skills and prospects, as well as contribute to a wider sense of purpose and impact on society.
“This research confirms that we stand at an inflection point,” says Nicole Scoble-Williams, Global Future of Work Leader at Deloitte Australia. “It’s time to shift our collective focus to a bold new agenda dedicated to reshaping the landscape – an agenda where Meaningful Work is not a distant aspiration but a tangible reality for every young person across communities worldwide. This research provides the foundation for collaborative action and societal transformation. With the Meaningful Work Standards serving as a compass, it can pave the way to an inclusive world where every young individual has the opportunity to flourish.”
The response
The second report - Future ready: Reimagining Meaningful Work for young people (36 pages) - is a response to the first. In it, YMCA calls for a new approach to work for young people, which:
- Adopts a shared understanding of, and commitment to, ‘Meaningful Work’, as defined by young people themselves
- Emphasizes a systemic, coordinated response from educational institutions, employers, businesses, governments, civil society organizations, and communities to help young people find, prepare for, and access ‘Meaningful Work’.
In collaboration with young people, YMCA has developed a new definition for ‘Meaningful Work.’ In addition, YMCA has built an accompanying framework of twelve ‘Meaningful Work’ Standards.
We define Meaningful Work as ‘work that is fair and fulfilling, and which positively influences the growth and wellbeing of young people and their communities’.
The 12 Standards encompass work that is: Healthy, Rewarded, Ethical, Protective, Inclusive, Growth-promoting, Co-created, Balanced, Productive, Sustainable, Purposeful, and Connected.
YMCA is currently discussing these 12 Standards with other global organizations active in the field of young people and work.
“Millions of young people face unemployment, underemployment, or precarious work conditions,” says World YMCA Secretary General Carlos Sanvee. “This not only impacts their well-being but also hinders future economic growth. So the future of work demands a shift in perspective. ‘Meaningful Work’ isn’t only about fair wages and benefits. It encompasses a sense of purpose, growth opportunities, and a healthy work-life balance. These ingredients will attract and retain young talent, fostering a more engaged and productive future workforce. These two reports call for a collective effort to prioritize access to meaningful work that benefits both young people and employers.”
With these two publications, YMCA aims to ignite change, inspire collaboration, and ultimately build a world in which every young person - irrespective of their background or geography - can fulfill their true potential.
About World YMCA
YMCA is active in 12,000 communities in 120 countries, employing some 90,000 staff and mobilizing some 920,000 volunteers. It reaches over 60 million people a year. Working collectively under its shared YMCA Vision 2030, it impacts lives through programs and advocacy in four priority areas: Community Wellbeing, Meaningful Work, Sustainable Planet, and Just World. Established in 1844, the YMCA is 180 years old in 2024.
Media Contact
Company Name: YMCA
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City: Geneva
Country: Switzerland
Website: https://www.ymca.int
