Youth employment prospects darkened by pandemic
The ongoing coronavirus crisis has had a devastating effect on the education and skills development of young people, according to a study by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that was released on Tuesday.
Ever since the outset of the pandemic, more than 70 per cent of the people who are still students or combine work with studies have been adversely affected by the closure of educational institutions and training centres, the ILO said in a statement.
According to the organisation's report titled, 'Youth and COVID-19: impacts on jobs, education, rights and mental well-being', 65 per cent of the youth reported having learning less after the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent transition from physical to online classes.
Despite their efforts to pursue education and training, around half the people in the survey said that their studies would now have to be put on hold while 9 per cent said that they might fail their exams due to poor learning.
The situation is even worse for young people in lower-income countries who have less access to the internet, modern equipment or even a lack of space to do classes from home, the ILO statement said.
This highlights the tremendous 'digital divide' between nations as up to 65 per cent of the youth in high-income countries were taught via video-conferences while only 18 per cent were able to continue their studies online in low-income countries.
"The pandemic is inflicting multiple shocks on young people. It is not only destroying their jobs and employment prospects but also disrupting their education and training while having a serious impact on their mental well-being. We cannot let this happen," said Guy Ryder, director-general of the ILO.
As per the report, 38 per cent of the youth are uncertain of their career prospects as the ongoing crisis is expected to create more obstacles for the labour market and to lengthen the transition from school to work for many individuals.
Some parts of the young population have already felt a direct impart as one in every six individuals lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
Young workers who are more likely to be employed in occupations such as support, services and sales-related jobs were highly affected by the recent economic crisis, making them more vulnerable to the coronavirus fallout.
Meanwhile, about 42 per cent of the people who continued to work have seen their incomes reduced.
Considering this, the situation has had an impact on their mental well-being as well.
The survey found that 50 per cent of the young generation are possibly subject to anxiety or depression while a further 17 per cent are probably already affected.
Despite the extreme circumstances, young people are mobilising to speak out on the fight against the coronavirus crisis.
According to the survey, one in four individuals participated in some kind of volunteer work amid the pandemic.
Ensuring that the voice of the youth is heard is critical for delivering a more inclusive response to the Covid-19 crisis.
Giving young people a say in decision-making while allowing them to articulate their needs and ideas will improve the effectiveness of various policies and programmes and give them a chance to participate in their delivery, the report said.
"The findings of this timely study clearly show how young men and women are the hardest hit by the ongoing crisis," said Tuomo Poutiainen, country director of ILO Bangladesh, adding that Bangladesh is no exception.
Millions of young people are bearing the brunt of an ever-widening 'digital divide' due to poor access to online and distance learning platforms, a lack of IT equipment and study space at home.
This lack of education and skills training will only further hamper their future career prospects.
Therefore, unless urgent action is taken, the nation's youth will suffer severe and long-lasting impact from this pandemic and its socio-economic fallout, Poutiainen said.
"We must safeguard their education, training and right to access decent work," he added.
The ILO report also called for an urgent large-scale and targeted policy response aimed at protecting an entire generation of young people from having their employment prospects permanently scarred by the crisis.
Such measures include re-integrating those who recently lost their jobs due to the pandemic back into the labour market and providing unemployment benefits and measures to boost their mental health, from psychosocial support to sports activities.
The study, published by the ILO, was conducted in association with the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, European Youth Forum, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth.
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