UNDP and Help are implementing a new pilot program, within the Activate! project whose main goal is to help young and unemployed people, under the age of 35, get employment easier and faster, through personal activation and engagement – working on themselves and their work profile.
With the help of experts in the field of employment and social protection, in the following five months, we engage in motivating young and unemployed people to, apart from registering to the labor office, take it a step further – working on themselves and building a work profile in order to be more prominent to employers on the job market.
Basic information:
Pilot project: Working activation of social protection beneficiaries
Location:
Montenegro: Podgorica, Tuzi, Golubovci, Nikšić, Plužine, Šavnik, Bijelo Polje, Ulcinj, Bar, Rožaje
Value:
45.000,00 Euro
Donator/Donor:
UNDP – Program Activate
Duration:
February 15 – July 15, 2022
Description:
Montenegro has had a low employment rate (especially among young people) for many years, and a low activity rate (especially among women) characterizes the labor market. Young people, especially from rural areas, are in an even more difficult position. Women continue to face specific barriers when getting a job, earn less and face difficulties in balancing work and household chores.
Youth unemployment rose to 37.7% in 2021, further exacerbating job prospects. Long-term unemployment affects two-thirds of unemployed young women in Montenegro, according to Monstat records. This suggests that new policies are needed to help young people find suitable jobs, get the opportunity for further education or training on time.
Three quarters of young people employed in Montenegro are mostly part-time, which is significantly more than in the 27 EU member states. The level of education affects the position of young people in the labor market, because the activity rate of young people with a low level of education (primary school or less) is below 10%.
The activity rate rises sharply with the level of education, emphasizing the importance of continuing education and providing adequate training and education opportunities for unqualified young people.
In Europe, after Turkey, Montenegro has the highest percentage of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). According to the World Bank, NEET youth in Montenegro accounted for 28.6 percent. Local social institutions do not have specific strategies or capacities to deal with young people in NEET. In addition to the lack of strategies designed for this category of population, the RCC study also shows that there are many unreliable job search platforms, and young people are often uncertain about the jobs they apply for because there is not much information. Employers often provide unrealistic information about employment conditions, which often leads young people to inactivity and lack of motivation to find a job.
All this indicates not only the need for specific strategies and Institutional capacity building, but also the need for continuous motivation and support for the unemployed vulnerable population.
The European Commission’s recommendations also emphasize the importance of developing quality employment measures aimed at young people and women, people with disabilities, minorities and vulnerable groups affected by the pandemic.
Goals:
- Contribute to the work activation of the unemployed, with a focus on social protection beneficiaries, through services / programs that respond to the specific needs of beneficiaries
- Contribute to the integrated provision of activation and employment services, specifically for the user
- Test innovative approaches to integrated work activation and their potential for full realization
Results:
- Activation and improvement of employability of up to 100 young unemployed persons
- Strengthened institutional capacity to provide integrated activation services
Target group: young people (up to 35 years old), unemployed, able-bodied MOP beneficiaries
Main activities:
Agreeing on details of cooperation with national and local actors
Communication campaign towards beneficiaries / potential project participants
Selection of participants
Conducting training for work activation (soft skills)
Creating individual activation plans
Mentoring based on individual plans
Identification and presentation of positive role models
Sharing lessons learned with stakeholders
