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Labourers are busy in their work at brick kilns, as International Labour Day is celebrated on May 1 every year on May 1, 2024. — APP
#Bridging #skill #gaps #tackling #unemployment #Pakistan
LAHORE: Labor market challenges in South Asia are maintained, especially with youth unemployment, participation in women’s workforce and apprenticeship opportunities. However, due to the slow economic growth, the situation is particularly serious in Pakistan.
An attempt has been made to solve these issues, including professional training programs and steps to increase women’s jobs in the technical fields, but the significant difference remains. The unemployment of the youth is high, and women’s participation in the labor force is behind the global average. Pakistan’s apprenticeship system requires expansion and modernization to be compatible with existing market requirements.
There are unrealistic expectations of many non -skilled workers’ careers. Without gaining the necessary skills, the development of his career is limited. South Asia is primarily a young population, yet the unemployment of youth is dangerous. Inadequate programs for lack of employment opportunities and skilled development programs are further enhanced.
The participation of women’s workforce is significantly lower than that of men. Even in educated women, the unemployment rate is inappropriate due to cultural, social and economic obstacles. Pakistan’s Labor Market has long been struggling with structural disadvantages about youth unemployment, participation in women’s workforce and apprenticeship programs. Although there have been some progress in recent years, challenges have been going on to maintain sustainable economic growth and barriers to social development.
Pakistan has the youngest population globally, yet the unemployment of youth remains a major concern. As of June 2024, the overall unemployment rate was 6.3 percent, which is about 4.51 million unemployed. However, the situation is more severe in the youth, the unemployment rate in people aged 15-24 is 11.1 %. This crisis arises from a number of factors, including skills and employment needs, lack of professional training, and a similarities between the limited formation of jobs in important industries.
Educational institutions in Pakistan often fail to equip students with market -related skills, and are unable to meet the expectations of the employer for graduates. Economic uncertainty jobs have worsened the issue, as businesses are reluctant to expand their workforce.
A strong apparatus system is very important to eliminate the skill gap and improve employment. However, Pakistan is far behind the developed economies in this regard. In countries like Germany and the United Kingdom, there are 39 apprentices per 1,000 workers, while India has one thousand five per thousand. On the contrary, there are only 0.3 apprentices per 1,000 workers in Pakistan, which reflect a severe decline in professional training and employment opportunities.
Despite some progress, the participation of the women’s labor force in Pakistan is less than world standards. In 2023, the global average, compared to 51.07 %, only 24.46 % of Pakistani women were engaged in labor strength. Even in educated women, unemployment rates are high due to lack of social and cultural barriers, workplace discrimination, and lack of maternity benefits and flexible work arrangements.
Steps such as the ‘Light Baji’ program, which trained 200 women as a certified electrician in Karachi, have focused on breaking gender principles in the technical fields. However, such isolated efforts need to be scaled and integrated into national labor policies to create a meaningful effect.
As of 2015, more than 30,000 apparatus in 276 trade were training in 2,751 industries. However, it was less than 10 % of more than 350,000 professional trains annually by educational institutions. The difference between theoretical training and the exposure of the practical industry is an important obstacle to the development of skills.
To deal with these challenges, a multi -dimensional approach is needed. Strengthening professional training is very important. A structural apprenticeship framework, which supports tax concessions, can encourage job training. The policies that promote the participation of the workplace, such as subsidized children’s care and discrimination laws, should be reinforced. Public private partnerships can also play a key role in eliminating the skill gap by offering training programs associated with the industry.
Pakistan’s manpower has immense potential, but without strategic intervention, the global labor market is at risk of furthering the country. Dealing with youth unemployment, empowering women, and strengthening professional training are necessary steps towards sustainable economic growth.
