1. Skills for improved employability
Eva Jimeno Sicilia, ETF
6 July 2017, Lebanon

2. Structure of the presentation
ETF: Who are we?
Putting the challenge in context
Why to focus on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial learning
What etf does to support partner countries?

3. 1. ETF: Agency of the European Union
MISSION To help transition and developing countries to harness the potential of their human capital through the reform of education, training and labour market systems in the context of the EU’s external relations policy

4. Russia Candidate countries:
Albania, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey
Central Asia:
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Russia
Potential candidate countries:
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo *
Southern and Eastern Mediterranean:
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine**, Tunisia and Israel
Eastern Partnership :
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Russia
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of dindependence
** This esignation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue

5. 2. YOUTH EMPLOyability: OVERVIEW OF the SITUATION IN THE SEMED REGION
Persistent skills mismatches and insufficient job creation
The LM situation in the region is generally poor, especially for young people and women.
Activity rates are among the lowest in the world: 40-50%, esp. for women (around 25% or less)
Unemployment has increased since 2010 and ranges from 10 to 25%. It is particularly high for women and youth.
Highly segmented LM: some categories are completely left out from the LM. Multiple reasons of exclusion from the market: if entering the market is very difficult for youth, it is almost impossible for young girls.
Structural issues have made the situation worst, especially in countries such as LEB and JOR where massive arrival of refugees have put national systems under high constraints, bringing them close to the collapse.
Increased level of education have not translated into better employability: higher level of education does not pay off in most countries. In a recent ETF Research on NEETs, it was found out that education is not a guarantee of fewer NEETs: with the exception of Jordan, where highly graduated have a smoother transition to work, all other countries analysed have higher NEETs rates among young people with higher education than those with lower education. One note ist hat the NEETs indicator is even more worrysome than the unemployment rate, as it shows a category of people who drops out completely from the market (includes inactives and unemployed).
This clearly indicates a mismatch between demand and supply, it can indicate a over production of highly graduated people or, more importantly, indicates that the national systems are not able to produce enough quality jobs for highly educated people.
Instead, it is interesting to note the direct correlation between early school leavers and NEETS at aggregate level: where high rate of ESL, also high rate of NEETS.
The messages are: need to improve education and training systems, need to reskills young people who are unskilled to improve their basic skills, look at job creation mechanisms (especially where highly educated are more likey to become NEETs).

6. Figure 1. Unemployment rates of total population (15+), women (15+) and youth (15-24) in 2010 and 2015

7. Figure 2. Unemployment rates of total population, upper and post-secondary (ISCED 3-4) and tertiary (ISCED 5-6)

8. Figure 3. NEETs rates 15-24, last available year – (%)

9. 3. WHY TO FOCUS ON ENTERPRENEURSHIP
Foundation skills and entrepreneurship as key competence (entrepreneurial spirit) could generate the necessary resilience Entrepreneurship brings the growth and jobs agenda together like no other policy area.

10. 4. WHAT etf DOES: IN THE FIELD OF Entrepreneurship AND EL….
Assessment and policy tracking tools SBA (Small Business Act policy index – Holistic Assessment with EC and OECD) Ensuring countries learn from one another Support specific countries on reforms (Lebanon introduction of EL as core competence through VET)

11. … AND MUCH MORE…Support countries to develop SKILLS and VET POLICIES
Fostering entrepreneurial learning and skills for SMEs
Reinforcing holistic evidence-based and integrated skills development analysis
Promoting multi-level governance
Developing effective skills anticipation and matching policies to ease transitions to work
Facilitating qualifications comparison and analysis to support the mobility of workers and learners, while feeding national debate on qualification reforms
Providing support to EU Delegations and Commission services in designing, monitoring and evaluating EU programmes and supporting regional dialogue (UFM)

12. Thank you! Visit our website: www.etf.europa.eu
us:
Thank you!