Financial aid: Available

Date: 23-25 May 2012

Deadline: Registration Closed

Open to: All Interested

International Labour Organization

Youth Employment Forum

23–25 May 2012 Geneva, Switzerland

Introduction

A critical element of the current global jobs crisis is the struggle faced by young people in entering and remaining in the labour market. Young people are three times more likely than adults to be out of a job. According to ILO estimates, a total of 600 million new jobs will need to be created in the next ten years to absorb the current number of 200 million people unemployed worldwide and the 40 million annual growth in the labour force.

Out of the total number of unemployed, about 75 million, or around 40 per cent, are young people.  If the estimated 152 million young people living on less than USD 1.25 per day are added to the number of unemployed youth, the number of youth in extremely vulnerable situations becomes 227 million.

To address this challenge, the Governing Body of the ILO decided in March 2011 to have a General Discussion on the “Youth employment crisis” at the 101th Session of the International Labour Conference.

The Forum

In order to highlight the importance of youth in the world of work, the Director General has decided to organize a global Youth Employment Forum that will be hosted on the premises of the International Labour Office in Geneva prior to the International Labour Conference, from the 23rd to 25th of May 2012.

The Forum will consist of plenary sessions, thematic sessions and breakout workshops. Additionally, there will be a “Good Practice Marketplace”.

Prior to the Forum over 40 national youth employment events will be organized to discuss the youth employment challenge at country level. A summary of these discussions will be shared during the Forum.

The key issues discussed at the Forum will be presented at the 101st Session of the International Labour Conference that will take place in Geneva in June 2012.

Objectives and Themes

The objectives of the Forum are to:

• Collect the views and experiences of young people on the current employment situation;
• Discuss practical examples of successful initiatives to promote decent work for youth.

The themes of the Forum will include:

• The youth employment crisis: facts and issues;
• How to ease youth transitions to decent work: good practices;
• Partnerships for more and better jobs for young people.

Participants

About 100 young people aged 18-29 will participate in the Forum, representing young women and men who are active in the promotion of decent work for youth.

Candidates Should

- Be between 18 and 29 years old (exceptions will be made in special cases depending on the relevanceCandidates should:

- Be committed to participating in the online discussion one month prior to the Forum.

- Be proficient in at least one of the following languages: English, French or Spanish.

- Be involved in an aspect of youth employment and active in the promotion of decent work for youth.of experience and accomplishments).

- Fully complete the online form in order to register as young participants.

Application Procedures

Step 1. Review the selection criteria to verify that you fill the requirements to participate

Step 2. Complete the online application form. You can access the form in the language of your preference, by clicking one of the links below:

• Spanish: http://tinyurl.com/form-yef-sp
  
• French: http://tinyurl.com/form-yef-fr
  
• English: http://tinyurl.com/form-yef-eng
  

Step 3. Send us an e-mail with your name, age and CV to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Don't forget to state the phrase "Candidate to the Forum" in the subject of the email!

Please make sure to complete steps 1, 2 and 3. Submit the full application by 23 April at the latest. Any incomplete or incorrect applications will not be reviewed.

Contact Information:

Youth Employment Forum

Telephone: +41 22 799 6434

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: YEF