Public Positions for Youth
Challenge
Junior, public positions serve as a crucial element in building a talent pipeline for public institutions. By actively hiring individuals with limited professional experience, these organisations, mostly the public and governmental ones, invest in the future, as they develop a pool of skilled individuals who can eventually take on senior roles.
Taking into account the results published in Paris on 14th November 2023 at the Statistics New Release of OECD we can conclude that the youth unemployment rate remained close to or above 20% in 9 OECD countries in September and increased in 16. Pronounced increases of more than one percentage point were recorded in Korea, Czechia, Luxembourg, and Sweden. And this problem could continue to be exacerbated if specific positions are not opened up for young people who, after finishing school or even university, need to look for a job.
In response to the evolving landscape of the workforce, and as recognition for the need for talent development, this proposal recommends the introduction of junior, fairly-paid positions within public institutions. The objectives are to provide valuable entry-level opportunities, foster diversity and inclusion, and enhance institutional capacity by ensuring constant renovation and incoming of fresh ideas.
Proposal
- Youth Quotas in Public institutions: we want to implement Youth Quotas for open positions in public institutions. We suggest public institutions establish a minimum of 5-10% of young individuals in each of their departments.
- Fair payment: when looking for a job in public institutions, one of the main challenges young people are faced with is the requirement of years of experience to apply, i.e. around 1 to 3 years of internships. However, these internships are almost always underpaid, most often not paid at all. Therefore, ensuring paid internships in the public sector to young people who wish to gain experience constitutes the first step of the proposal.
Impact
There are currently 1.2 billion young people between the ages of 15 and 24, which represents 16% of the world’s population. By 2030, this number is expected to have reached 1.3 billion. Given that prediction, the implementation of public positions available to the youth will undoubtedly have a major impact on a social, financial and motivational plane. The positive consequences to having open junior positions, can be described as it follows:
- Workforce Development: Junior positions provide an avenue that ensures financial stability, which, in time, allows for workforce development and talent cultivation. By offering entry-level positions, public institutions will actively contribute to the development of a skilled and diverse workforce, helping individuals gain practical experience and skills relevant to their chosen field.
- Opportunities for Recent Graduates: Public institutions often serve as a stepping stone for recent graduates entering the working field. These junior positions can be particularly attractive to individuals who have completed their education and are eager to apply their valuable academic knowledge in a real-world setting.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Junior positions can contribute to diversity and inclusion initiatives within public institutions. By providing opportunities for individuals from different backgrounds and experiences, organisations can foster a more inclusive work environment and bring a variety of perspectives to their teams.’
- Innovation and Fresh Perspectives: Junior positions can inject new ideas and fresh perspectives into public institutions. Young professionals often bring innovative approaches to problem-solving and introduce modern technologies and methodologies to the workplace.
- Adaptability to Change: Public institutions that actively hire junior employees display adaptability to changing work environments. This competence is crucial in the face of evolving technological landscapes, societal needs, and organisational goals.
- Community Impact: Public institutions play a crucial role in serving communities, and having junior positions may enhance the institution’s ability to connect with and understand the needs of the community. Young professionals may bring a fresh perspective on how to address community challenges and improve services.