THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN GENERATING EMPLOYMENT IN THE SOCIETY (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
- INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND STUDY
As policy makers focus on reducing unemployment, many look to economic growth as a key driver of job creation. Certainly a growing economy can lead to new jobs and increased prosperity. However, higher growth rates do not necessarily lead to more job opportunities or lower unemployment. Increased productivity due to new technologies or higher commodity prices can produce economic growth without corresponding job creation. Additionally, growth is not necessarily shared among a population equally. It is often concentrated in particular sectors, having relatively little impact on other portions of the populations. Governments and other institutions (such as employer associations, NGOs and universities) have critical roles to play in implementing policies and programs that reduce unemployment while encouraging economic growth. One way to increase the employability of a population and promote job creation is to improve the quality of education. Education contributes to overall economic growth by improving the efficiency of the workforce and leading to higher rates of individual productivity, which in turn lead to a higher demand for qualified workers.
Education can provide individuals with the necessary market skills to be relevant in the economy. However, this can only happen when the quality of education is ensured. The issue is that most educational systems do not foster inventive thinking, communication skills, problem solving or the other competencies that can help individuals do well in their jobs. In order to change this situation and maximize the benefits of education while increasing the employability of graduates, collaboration is needed between governments, the private sector and educational institutions.
Such collaboration could support the preparedness of workers by aligning the supply and demand of skilled graduates while ensuring the system operates in a favorable policy environment. For example, the German dual system of apprenticeship is often touted as a model for other countries in reducing youth unemployment. This program allows youth to accrue important work experience that will make them more employable and facilitates the school-to-work transition.
The German system involves close collaboration between the government and the private sector where the cost and development of the training’s content is shared jointly by both bodies. Learning from the success of the apprenticeship programs like this one can provide guidance on how youth unemployment can be reduced. There is therefore a need to carry out a study on the roles of education in generating employment in the society.
