Policy brief of the global initiative on decent jobs for youth
- There is a need to focus on youth with disabilities to prepare young people for the future of work in the digital economy, accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis.
- Estimates suggest that there are between 180 and 220 million young people with disabilities around the world and nearly 80% of themlive in developing countries.
- Not only do inclusive digita lskills initiatives support the fundamentalrights of youngpersons with disabilities for inclusive education and access to decent work,but these initiatives also contribute to addressing the shortage of digitally skilled workers inlabour markets around the world.
- By becomingmore inclusive,mainstreaming digital skills initiatives can enhance the employabil ty of young persons with disabilities and, therefore, increase their chances of finding decent work. Lowerlevels of educat ionlead to an education and skills gap among young adults compared to other segments of the popu ation andleave them without the skills required by employers for many jobs.
- Young people with disabilities are more likely to benefit from an inclusive digital skills initiative when action is coordinated across all levels - governments,international organizations,policy making bodies, and digital skills training providers, private sector employers and support organisations.
1. Introduction
1.1. Young persons with disabilities and work
Young persons with disabilities continue to face multiple forms of discrimination in the world of work, including discrimination based on their disability and age. Other intersecting identities, including gender, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity may exacerbate the discrimination experienced when trying to access and stay in the labour market. The COVID-19 crisis is further aggravating pre-existing inequalities in the world of work, including for young people with disabilities (ILO, 2020a).
Estimates suggest that there are between 180 and 220 million young people with disabilities around the world and nearly 80% of them live in developing countries (UNDESA, 2011). In the world of work, persons with disabilities face enormous attitudinal, physical, and informational barriers to equal employment opportunities. In addition, a lack of demanded skills among persons with disabilities limits their access to in-demand high-paying jobs and contributes to significantly lower employment levels for young persons with disabilities, as compared to their peers without disabilities.