Linking Industry with Youth through Youth-Led Labour Market Assessments

• In Event: Education and industry linkages and partnerships for youth success

Proposal

Nearly half of Uganda’s population is under 15 year of age (Central Intelligence Agency 2017). Therefore, youth employment in the country is a critical issue as the youth population grows. Youth-led approaches provide opportunities to inspire and equip young people with the skills to be active and informed change agents in their communities. Given the complexity of the issue of youth employment, this initiative used a participatory action research (PAR) methodology to investigate the School-to-Work transition (SWT) opportunities and challenges by involving the target population of the research as researchers, hence allowing the outcomes to be “for them, by them.”

IREX and Makerere University’s career center conducted a youth-led labour market assessment in Uganda on the premise that youth have the immense potential to become drivers of their own development and have the necessary knowledge and skills to tackle problems that affect their peers and themselves. IREX and Makerere University provided technical support both in research and soft skills development, mentorship and planning and coordination.

The initiative employed a youth-led participatory action research (PAR) methodology that engaged youth between the ages of 17 and 29 from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds in lead roles. With support from research experts, youth explored labour market needs and opportunities that matter to them and engaged private sector companies within the trade sector in Kampala for the insights on youth access and preparation for jobs. In these roles, youth gained direct access to employers and obtained information about jobs critical for themselves and their peers. In addition, they developed relationships that otherwise would not have been possible.

Throughout the research, youth took the lead role in decision-making from research design to implementation and dissemination. In the process, youth learned and practised concrete research skills, work-relevant soft skills and leadership skills, while also gaining knowledge of the labour market and exposure to employers.

The author will provide insights on collaborating with a career center to implement a youth-led labour market assessment, the outcomes of the connections with employers, and lessons learned from engaging with diverse stakeholders on youth-led research.

Author

• Nina Oduro, IREX