Unemployment and underemployment among youth is associated with low technical skills of young school graduates. Case Study of the Central District for 1990-2006

Abstract

The general goal of the following research study is to evaluate the characteristics of youth unemployment and under employment in the Central District, and its relationship with current technical education situation as a medium to insert the high school graduating youth into the labor market. Specific goals include assessing the current situation of technological studies from high school graduates, to evaluate the physical/pedagogical infrastructure of centers for technical studies, and the teacher's academic level, as well as to evaluate the magnitude and trends of youth unemployment in the Central District.

The research subject, youth unemployment and sub-employment is related to many factors linked with structural causes of the capitalist wealth accumulation model, as is the case with the huge mass of unemployed bringing counter weight to the employment conditions of those that have jobs. On the other hand, technical qualification definitely influences quality job insertion and permanence. The study establishes this relationship via the analysis of the youth's professional education at high school level during three five year periods in which trends aims at the outsourcing of economy and education itself, but in conditions of precarious and unstable jobs. This technical qualification has its roots in the educational system itself, particularly on the quality of high school education that has been historically non articulated with the rest of educational levels, being considered a transition phase between studies and labor market. The study concludes that half the teachers of high school education do not have formal qualifications to teach, which directly impacts teaching quality. Technological schools observed as a sample for the study do show characteristics of professional formation, but do not count with institutional policies for job insertion that would ease youth access to permanent jobs. All these factors impact on the quality of the jobs occupied by youth and makes difficult the accumulation of work experience and other abilities that would ensure a better job in their future.

Key words: youth unemployment; youth insertion in labor force; technological qualifications; jobs outsourcing.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/rct.v0i6.513

Revista Ciencia y Tecnología, No. 6, Segunda época, junio 2010: 80-96