- \n
- 88% of youth surveyed believed that they
\nhave the requisite skills needed to enter the working world but more than 90%
\nof them are “anxious” about their ability to secure a job upon completing their
\neducation<\/b><\/li>\n- Most felt that Covid-19 is affecting the
\njob-seeking process but remain optimistic<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nSINGAPORE –\u00a0Media
\nOutReach<\/a>\u00a0– 15 July 2021 –\u00a0To mark the United Nations’ World Youth Skills Day this year, Deutsche
\nPost DHL Group (DPDHL Group), the world’s leading logistics provider has published
\nkey findings from an inaugural study on youth employability in Asia Pacific.
\nThe three-week online study saw close to 950 responses from young people above
\n15 years of age across seven countries \u2013 Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri
\nLanka, Thailand and Vietnam. This study was done as part of DPDHL Group’s
\nGoTeach program with the support of its global partners Teach For All network
\nand SOS Children’s Villages. <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/release.media-outreach.com\/release.php\/Images\/Thumb\/520x0\/162969\/DHL-APAC.jpg#image-162969\")
<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nChristoph Selig, Vice-President, sustainability
\ncommunications and programs, DPDHL Group said, “Job uncertainties and
\ninsecurities abound as most economies in the region continue to battle
\ndifferent waves of Covid-19 even as the pandemic starts to recede with the
\navailability of vaccines. Whilst this inevitably impacts the hiring roadmap for
\nbusinesses across multiple industries, it is heartening to see our youth
\nrecognizing the challenges ahead, but yet remain optimistic about their own
\naptitude and abilities to secure a job upon completing their education.” <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nThe study found that more than 90% of youth who
\nresponded are either “anxious” or “very anxious” about their ability to find a
\njob, with nearly 95% acknowledging that the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting the
\nprocess of job hunting. Despite this, there is a sense of confidence as well as
\noptimism among these youth: 88% of them believe they are ready to enter the job
\nmarket, with more than 70% indicating that they expect to land a job in less
\nthan six months upon completing their education. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nWhen evaluating an offer, the “opportunity to learn
\nand be challenged” at a job came up top in factors to consider followed closely
\nby “job security”, where nearly 20% of respondents indicated as crucial. Unsurprisingly,
\ncirca 38% of the young surveyed regarded traditional methods such as internships
\nto be useful in helping them land a job although recommendations from mentors
\nand teachers are equally considered to be key enablers. Online job portals whilst
\nprevalent are viewed as the least useful channel simply due to the lack of the
\npersonal connection afforded by working as an intern or a validation by a
\ncontact.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nIndustry
\npreferences<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\nOver 360 youth felt that working as a healthcare
\nprofessional such as a nurse or doctor is the most recession-proof occupation
\nundoubtedly swayed by the critical roles that these front-liners have played
\nsince the global Covid-19 outbreak, whereas a job in the education or
\ngovernment sectors are tied in second. Interestingly, when asked what their
\npreference as a first job will be, more than 20% picked entrepreneurship
\ncompared to 14% who selected healthcare. Indeed, the education, hospitality\/
\ntourism sectors joined entrepreneurship in the top three industry preferences
\nranking with healthcare trailing in fourth place.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n“Young people just entering the workforce have
\nwitnessed an unprecedented crisis that would have influenced their view of the
\nworking world,” commented Susanne Novotny, Corporate Partnership Manager at SOS
\nChildren’s Villages. “It’s therefore not surprising that most felt that the
\nhealthcare industry is somewhat recession-proof but equally, most young people
\nmight have preferred to start their own business to have better control over
\ntheir own lives, careers and destiny. All in all, it’s encouraging to see the
\nenterprising spirit of young people, strongly supported by GoTeach
\nentrepreneurship training on how to start and run their own business.”<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\nEssential skills
\nfor the working world<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\nBeyond technical and vocational skills, 45% of those
\nsurveyed viewed interpersonal communications skills as key whilst 30% thought
\nlanguage skills to be pertinent in their ability to secure a job.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nPablo Millanes, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Teach
\nFor All said, “Our GoTeach mentorship programs are always designed to equip
\nyoung people with the broad range of knowledge and skills that they will need
\nto fulfill their potential in a rapidly changing world, and we’ll keep working closely
\nwith DHL to refine our activities as the world evolves. For example, we
\nmigrated all our GoTeach activities online last year when Covid hit, which was
\nchallenging at first but it opened up opportunities for volunteers around the
\nworld to participate.” <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nDesignated
\nby the General Assembly<\/a>\u00a0in 2014, the World Youth
\nSkills Day is an opportunity for young people, technical and vocational
\neducation and training (TVET) institutions, and public and private sector
\nstakeholders to acknowledge and celebrate the importance of equipping young people
\nwith skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. This year’s theme
\nis “Skills for a resilient youth”.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nAn Environment, Social and Governance (ESG)
\ninitiative dating back to 2009, GoTeach seeks to improve the employability of
\nyoung people, especially those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds
\ncaused by social unrest, poverty and\/or loss of family. To date, volunteers
\nfrom across DPDHL Group in over 60 countries have contributed their time and
\neffort into working with young people under this program. In Asia Pacific, more
\nthan 600 DHL volunteers ran several initiatives in 2020, including mentoring,
\njob skills training, resume writing, internships and youth camps, to benefit
\nyoung people across the region. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nNote to editors: <\/b><\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nPlease refer to the attached infographic
\nfor the complete findings of the study conducted among 950 young people across
\nAsia. For more stories about DHL’s sustainability approach and programs,
\nincluding GoTeach, please visit Logistics of Things<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n - Most felt that Covid-19 is affecting the