Improving access to jobs for the poor and vulnerable in Somalia

Jobs are vital for individuals to work their way out of poverty and for promoting shared prosperity. Somalia has few formal social safety nets, and the country is steadily consolidating peace and rebuilding state institutions following decades of conflict. Putting in place a jobs strategy as well as adaptive social protection systems are key to strengthening citizen confidence in state institutions. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) seeks to generate economic growth to create jobs and promote economic inclusion, including opportunities for youth, the most excluded and vulnerable group in Somalia. Decent jobs are central to poverty reduction, and have far reaching implications for stability and security, empowerment, and household resilience. Central to any efforts to curb poverty is the creation of enough decent jobs to absorb workers, especially youth. Youth represent an integral part of the economically productive population, possessing many years of productive life before them. The youth bulge and demographic expansion in Somalia suggest a pressing need to create jobs for its youth while equipping future workers with the right set of skills. This report examines the profile of Somali household workers, and identify job characteristics and constraints for creating more and inclusive jobs. The study also evaluates youth employment, patterns of school-to-work transitions, and how well the Somali educational system prepares young people for the job market.