Ecuador study reveals youth employment goals, the benefits of collaboration

On a recent visit to Quito, Ecuador, to explore how to help young people succeed in securing their first jobs and increasing their economic stability, two Children International colleagues and I had an opportunity to participate in an event that reinforced our belief in the power of collective support and collaboration. 

Matt Grimes, director of operations, strategy and support; Lourdes Yepez, regional program officer – youth employment; and I were reminded that in a rapidly changing labor market, youth around the world are facing significant challenges to securing employment.  

In fact, the latest data from the International Labor Organization indicates that 64.9 million young people worldwide were unemployed in 2023. Without dedicated employment initiatives, like Children International’s Into Employment Program, which provides training opportunities and support from mentors and job coaches, many youth will struggle to find their way into the workforce, especially for their first jobs. This is one of the many strengths of Children International’s mission-minded work. While we start serving children as early as age 2, as they enter adolescence we strategically focus on providing them with opportunities and resources to enter and thrive in the labor market. 

Featuring responses from 1,011 young people — more than 50% of whom currently participate in Children International Ecuador’s programming — the study revealed some of the barriers youth confront when looking for work and the challenges they can face when they land jobs. 

Among the key findings noted were the “mismatch” between applicants’ qualifications and the requirements for available jobs, the need for improved digital skills, and the importance of support for youth in enhancing their job prospects and strengthening their life skills. 

Key findings from the “National Diagnosis of Needs, Motivations and Barriers to Youth Employment in Ecuador” reveal challenges youth face in job hunting and underscore the importance of life and digital skills training. Children International’s Into Employment program equips participants with these skills, enhancing their career prospects.

Approximately 21% identified personal and professional goals as the primary motivators for their job searches, while job insecurity and discrimination were underscored as additional challenges. 

As Children International’s senior program officer for youth employment, I found these discoveries meaningful. They are significant not only for the youth we’re supporting with training opportunities and job-placement support in Ecuador, but also for Children International’s efforts to serve youth in this age group in all the countries in which we are based.  

Matt, Lourdes and I are currently working on a strategy to help older youth in our programs around the globe succeed in the workforce long-term and land jobs that help them consistently work their way out of poverty.  

Alongside María Augusta Proaño, agency director of Children International Quito, we explained how Children International focuses on empowering youth whose limited access to opportunities and resources can create barriers to entering the labor market.  

Leaders from the government, private companies, nonprofits and the media attended the presentation of the study at the Simon Bolivar Andean University in Quito, Ecuador. 

Children International Quito’s and Empleo Joven’s partnership highlighted how different sectors can team up to tackle youth employment issues. This collaboration has helped uncover important challenges young people face in finding jobs. It also showcased how working together can help break down barriers and drive positive change.  

The study in Ecuador focused on young people in that country, but its findings are important for Children International’s leaders and other partners in the community and business sector. It serves as a crucial reminder of the need to align employability efforts with the real-world needs of young job seekers and their life plans. The study also showed that Children International is on the right track with its efforts to support older youth, which match similar initiatives worldwide.  

By equipping youth with the right blend of foundational life skills, job readiness and digital literacy, alongside training and work experience opportunities, we can help them overcome barriers to finding meaningful jobs. Children International’s Into Employment initiative is committed to doing just that.  

We also plan to keep building multisectoral partnerships, like the one that led to this study, to create transformative opportunities for our youth. By working together effectively, we can ensure that today’s youth are not just prepared for work but also empowered to shape their futures and contribute to a thriving global economy.