Addressing the Gap between the Education System and the Labor Market

Abstract

Today’s young men and women are the future. While it may sound clichéd, it is important to make this realization. Our young people need to tackle the greatest challenges of the 21st century. They will determine the future of work and they will be responsible for guiding society forward. Considering the challenges that lie ahead, young people are now expected to have an entirely different skill set than any previous generation. They must be able to adapt and shape a rapidly changing world, and generate opportunities that never before existed. To invest in our future, we must give young people the sort of education that will enable them to find their place in a 21st century society. We are currently confronted with the paradoxical situation that despite the high rates of youth unemployment, employers in developed economies are complaining that they cannot find the skills that they need (Mourshed et al., 2014). As outlined earlier, this serves as evidence for the growing skills mismatch that we are experiencing. Educators can also step up and play their role in combating youth unemployment.