#8
All experience must matter
Youth Capital advocates for employers to recognise and reward young people’s informal, volunteer and extracurricular experience.
Career pathways are crucial to help young people move between the informal and formal sectors. Employers are part of this process. Acknowledging young people’s work experience in the informal sector can change this.
The facts are
“A challenge I often encounter is that many employers don’t recognise all experiences that young people have. This puts many of us who don’t have experience in the formal job sector at a disadvantage in getting jobs.”
-Lindokuhle Msele
RESEARCH
The impact of volunteer experience for both the host and the person doing the volunteer work is well documented.
In this impact study, Deloitte unpacks how the skills and leadership experience gained through volunteering are respected, and provide an edge for candidates during the hiring process.
What could improved certification look like?
Side hustles, volunteer work and piece jobs are seen as valuable work experience by young people and employers alike.
Investment into the social economy is focused on providing young people with helpful skills and work experience.
Employers welcome reference letters valuing all work experiences, including those in the informal sector and unpaid community development work.
We’ve got a plan!
Join over 50 organisations and 15 000 individuals and add your voice and experience to a coordinated response to youth unemployment.
