Social Protection Brief: Reducing Youth Not in Employment, Education, or Training through JobStart Philippines

Abstract

The population of the Philippines is relatively young, with half of the population less than 24 years old.1 The country’s average economic growth since 2010 is 6.2%.2 Despite its sustained growth, young people struggling to find jobs after they leave school is still a persistent problem in the Philippines. It is not able to absorb all new entrants to the job market or reduce their entry into the informal market. Creating wage jobs for the youth is critical to help reduce poverty and income inequality in the country.