In Central America, the youth unemployment rate is estimated at over 24%, while in Germany, where the dual education is practiced, youth unemployment is 6%.
EDITORIAL
A visit to Costa Rica by the German Education Minister has put back on the table the concept of dual education, an education method where time is shared between the traditional classroom and work as an apprentice in a trade or professional specialty, in a company.
While the unemployment rate is maintained, the rate of non-labor participation (people outside the labor force in respect to the population who are 15 years of age or older) increased by 2 percentage points.
From a statement issued by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC)
In the last year the number of people with jobs outside the formal market grew by nearly 3%, showing the deterioration of the competitiveness of the Costa Rican economy.
From a statement by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
Business Sector reiterates urgency of improving competitiveness and business climate in order to attract new investment.
In Guatemala people are now suffering from the "labor agreements", which come from the same strain of virus as the "Collective agreements" which have made the State Costa Rica sick, distorting the labor market and generating inequality.
EDITORIAL
The editorial "Harmfulness of labor agreements in the public sector", published today on Elperiodico.com.gt, might have been written some years ago to describe Costa Rica. Guatemala still appears to have a chance to react to the disease, with proper medication. In Costa Rica, however, the disease is so widespread that major surgery is needed which today does not seem feasible, and the only thing left is to wait for the inevitable final crisis.
In Honduras and Nicaragua the cost that a company must assume to formalize a worker amounts to more than 70% of what they will produce, while in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama, it is just under 40%.
From a statement issued by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB):
Formalizing a worker in Latin America costs 39% of what they produce
Wage and non-wage costs relative to productivity, are 50% higher in Latin America than the average in OECD countries.
The construction of the new container terminal in Moin has rekindled business hotels, corporate machinery, transportation and others, in an area deprived of development factors.
Renting working machinery, hiring companies for events and renting hotel rooms are just some of the new business deals being generated in Limon, since construction of mega-port project at Moin started.
The government of Costa Rica will pay $2,700 per person to enterprises hiring in vulnerable sectors and whose staff remain in their posts for at least 12 months.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Costa Rica:
Promoting job creation in two ways: an economic benefit to businesses that hire people and training in dual education.
· Registration of companies and individuals at the website www.miprimerempleo.cr
The Supreme Court has ruled to leave in place the veto of the Law known as the Labor Procedure Reform, which allowed strikes to be called on essential services such as ports, hospitals and public transportation.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations in the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
- Business Sector considers it to be a benefit to all Costa Ricans
Despite its development in advanced countries, including the more established social democracies, dual education is fundamentally opposed by those who will always be threatened by any changes.
EDITORIAL
As with education unions throughout Latin America, where there is an imperative need for radical changes in education systems which are increasingly lagging behind the rest of the world, in Costa Rica the corporation of education workers is radically opposed to any changes, even those that have proven successful in countries with political systems focused on social welfare such as the European social democracies, as is dual education.
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Su principal función, serán la comercialización de los productos y el seguimiento de cuentas de la compañía.
The communication and technology sector predicts that for the next two years it will hire more technical staff and university graduates than licensed professionals with master's degrees or doctorates.
The need for staff with technical rather than academic skills continues to grow in the field of technology and communications. A study by the Chamber of Information Technology and Communication concludes that only 2% of companies in the technology sector in the country plan to hire professionals with a PhD, while only 32% said they expected to hire graduates.
In advanced economies employment is becoming less stable while those in developing economies are focusing on public policies, which stimulates the growth of informality and, paradoxically, unemployment.
EDITORIAL
"It's the economy, stupid."
We will use the now famous phrase coined during Bill Clinton campaign against George Bush, to highlight the paternalistic voluntarism which is fashionable in most of the countries of the region, the only effect it has is to marginalize the formal production economy for more and more people, with an impoverishing final effect. Globalization requires more and more competition, which can only be achieved with maximum flexibility using all resources, including human ones. This, which in itself is inhumane, is a reality that should not be overlooked in the definition and implementation of public employment policies, if they are to be successful and sustainable.
The unemployment rate in the first quarter reached 10.1%, causing increasing concern for the business sector, which every day is facing more obstacles to generate more and better jobs.
From a statement by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
High unemployment and low economic growth alarms the business sector
In Costa Rica civil servants earn on average 150% more than workers in the private sector, which contributes decisively to the growth of inequality and lowers the overall competitiveness of human resources.
Companies are struggling to find employees with skills in information technology, programming and networking, electricity, processing and assembly of medical parts.
The Talent Shortage study (2014) by Manpower notes that "... 51% of the 620 Costa Rican employers surveyed said they can not find suitable professionals to perform the tasks required by their company." The main cause, according to the contractors, is lack of technical skills.