Policies

Solutions for Youth Employment (S4YE)

Context and Issue

The world is experiencing a major youth employment crisis, as highlighted by the Solutions for Youth Employment (S4YE) initiative. As per the 2015 baseline report by S4YE for the world bank, around 1.8 billion young people, mainly in developing and emerging economies, are struggling with unemployment and underemployment (worldbank, 2015, p. 33). Nearly 47% of the world’s unemployed are young people, who are four times more likely to be without work than adults. Additionally, one in three young people globally is not involved in education, employment, or training, leading to a growing population of unskilled and economically vulnerable youth.

Solution

To address these challenges, the Solutions for Youth Employment (S4YE) initiative was launched in 2014. With over 1 billion young people expected to enter the global workforce in the next decade, S4YE aims to create 5 million jobs per month. S4YE develops innovative programs that combine training and job search support with efforts to create jobs and improve job quality. By working with partners across different sectors, S4YE supports projects that reach over 550,000 young people each year in developing regions. These projects are carefully evaluated, and successful ones are scaled up. S4YE also shares valuable knowledge through reports, briefs, and toolkits that help guide its programs and serve as resources for others.

Impact

Since its launch in 2014, the Solutions for Youth Employment (S4YE) initiative has made a significant impact on the global youth employment crisis. Each year, S4YE reaches over 550,000 young people across 38 developing countries through its "learning laboratory" of 44 innovative projects. These projects have successfully created scalable job programs that combine training with job creation efforts. The initiative places a strong focus on helping vulnerable groups, including women and refugees, by creating more inclusive job opportunities. Through partnerships with over 150 youth employment operations within the World Bank and collaborations with more than 35 major companies, S4YE contributes to the global effort to create 5 million jobs per month, improve job quality, and shape youth employment policies worldwide.

Analysis

The Solutions for Youth Employment (S4YE) initiative faces challenges, particularly in regions with limited access to technology and education. These barriers could reduce the effectiveness of its programs, especially for women and refugees who also face cultural challenges. However, the initiative has already made a positive impact, reaching over 550,000 young people each year in 38 developing countries. With its strong global partnerships and proven strategies, S4YE has the potential to successfully expand to other regions, as long as local needs are carefully addressed.