Youth Employment

in Argentina

Vocabulary

Video: Employment in Argentina

Transcript

Gisela Lazcano hasn’t had a firm job in two years. She lives in the Buenos Aires suburb of Florencia Valera.

She scoured the various online ads, but only found a few hours work here and there caring for children or old people.

The twenty-five year old began studying veterinary medicine before switching to nursing. But now she can’t afford the tuition fees.

She’s not alone: around one in four (¼) young Argentinians are unemployed, much higher than the national average.

Gisela Lazcano, Job Seeker: “I’ve given up all hope of finding work, because I’ve been searching for so long. I’ve had some terrible experiences, not just once, but many times. I’ve had a couple of jobs were I was exploited. Or paid with two mangoes.”

 
But while so many young Argentinians are looking for work, the other side of the coin is that companies like Japanese automaker Toyota can’t find the skilled workers it desperately needs.

Even the tech-sector is finding it hard filling vacancies. IT services company G&L Group has three-hundred twenty (320) permanent staff. It’s looking to hire another one hundred (100).

And since it can’t find them, it’s started training a hundred youngsters.

Maria Laura Palacios, G&L Group CEO: “Demands on people’s technical abilities have risen. But very few people are interested in that kind of degree.

These careers have been mythologized, because they’ve seen as very difficult. And because a technology degree involves a lot of mathematics. A lot of young people use technologies, but don’t know how to use them.”

Economist Eduardo Levy Yeyati of the state run Di Tella University has written a book about Argentina’s labor market woes. He says there’s still a huge gap between training and education, and the needs of the labor market.

Eduardo Levy Yeyati, Di Tella University Dean: “There’s no compatibility in Argentina’s labor market: one the one hand, we teach things that aren’t in demand in the labor market; on the other hand, demand is shifting towards other skills we can’t teach students effectively enough.

Generally speaking, you can say education here is not up to scratch”

 
Buenos Aires has just passed legislation that lowers the cost of employing and training young people for companies.

But economists say the country needs a skill-curriculum geared to the requirements of its labor market. And the economy itself needs revitalizing along with that.

Questions

Doctor, Nurse, Veterinarian. Gisala Lazcano has never had a job before in her life. True or false? Recently, has she been able to get full-time, permanent work?

Babysitter, Care Giver, Care Provider. Is she uneducated? Did she drop out of high school? Is she a moron? Is she stupid?

Insurance Agent, Banker. Everyone in Argentina works. In Argentina, everyone has a good job. Is this right or wrong?

Accountant, Finance Manager. How does Gisela feel? Does she feel optimistic?

Contractor, Construction Worker, Carpenter. There are no good-paying jobs in Argentina. There is too much competition, and all good jobs have been taken. Is this correct or incorrect?

Plumber, Electrician, Mechanic. Does the IT service company G&L Group have a problem? What is their problem? What is their solution?

Architect, Engineer. Can anyone who uses a smartphone or other device work at G&L Group? Can anyone who is good with social media and apps work at G&L Group?

Teacher, Professor, Instructor. What might be the cause of the situation in Argentina? What are the solutions?
 
 
 
Truck Driver, Delivery Person. Is it very easy, easy, medium difficult or very difficult to find work in your town, city and country?

Cook, Chef, Baker. Is there a great demand for certain jobs? Are there job vacancies? Do some job positions go unfilled?

Farmer, Rancher, Shepherd. Are schools and universities aligned with the labor market? Do schools and universities adequately prepare students for the job market?

Shop Keeper, Store Clerk, Cashier. What might happen in the future?

Factory Worker, Technician, Machinist. What could or should people, governments and businesses do?