SPAIN: Youth increase employability
Event included 50 managers and human resource officials from companies that are hiring
SPAIN
(MissionNewswire) Pinardi Federation of Salesian Social Platforms in Spain and the Autonomous Community of Madrid, in collaboration with the Quiero Trabajo (I Want to Work) Foundation, hosted an event for 100 youth in search of their first job. The event brought the youth together with 50 managers and human resource officials from companies that are hiring. The event was part of the First Professional Experience project.
The project provides a framework for tackling the problem of youth unemployment. Training is provided by the Pinardi Federation and educational teams from local companies. In addition to skills training, youth also take courses in personal development and professional discovery. The goal is to increase employability and ensure a successful transition from the classroom to the workforce.
At this most recent event, youth were divided into groups of 25 with company executives. During the presentations, specific topics were addressed related to work and vocational training. Youth also had the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings to learn more and share their experience.
The event had high-caliber companies in attendance. One Salesian noted, “This meant an event of top quality and relevance for the young participants. The presence of these companies allows young people to deal with the world of work in a more realistic, close-up fashion, and offers them the opportunity to see how companies have confidence in them and in their potential for professional development.”
He added, “Likewise, the involvement of these companies has allowed young people to gain firsthand knowledge of the needs and demands of the current labor market, which will help them to better guide their training and preparation for the future.”
Since the Pinardi Federation and the Autonomous Community of Madrid launched their First Professional Experience in October 2022, 286 youth have begun work and almost 200 more are continuing their training process.
Salesian missionaries have also been working for many years to provide educational and workforce development opportunities for poor youth and women in Spain through residential, technical, and vocational training programs.
Close to 32% of young Spanish workers under the age of 25 are unemployed and a growing number of them can’t afford to buy enough food to live. Poor youth with few employable skills struggle the most to find and retain stable employment. Women in Spain face inequality in the workforce. They earn up to 14% less than men and represent only 34.5% of those listed as the highest earners in Spain.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
Salesian Missions – Spain
World Bank – Spain
