Promoting employment and vocational qualifications in Kyrgyzstan

Context

The poverty level in Kyrgyzstan rose to 31 per cent in 2020. While the supply of labour is growing, the economy does not provide enough jobs to accommodate this. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this situation. About 89,000 of 235,000 graduates have low employment chances, as the education system does not fully meet labour market requirements. Moreover, the number of young people not in education, employment or training is growing. Overall unemployment was 5.5 per cent as of March 2021 according to official sources, but the real figures are assumed to be higher. These challenges mean that up to 17 per cent of the population are labour migrants.

Objective

Employment perspectives of the Kyrgyz population are improved.

Approach

The project helps partner organisations to analyse labour market needs and develop evidence-based employment promotion policies. Adapted labour market instruments expand employment opportunities for specific target groups. Public employment offices receive support in developing and implementing more targeted and needs-oriented labour-market policy instruments.

The project supports short-term vocational training to give unemployed people skills and qualifications relevant to in-demand areas of employment. Moreover, it promotes and improves career-guidance in schools based on a social partnership model. Employers, schools, youth organisations, public employment offices and parents team up to support pupils in their decisions on professions and education. They carry out guidance games, visits of enterprises, orientation tests, social partnership round tables and other activities that will provide pupils with useful information about the labour market, as well as potential career and education paths. As a result, graduates make better training, career and education choices and can benefit more from the broad spectrum of job opportunities on the labor market.

This integrated approach contributes towards effectively reducing unemployment and poverty.

Last update: July 2021