Sustainable Employment for Long-term Inclusion

In Colombia, recently the inclusion of women in the labor market has been a problematic issue. In fact, according to DANE, in the April-June 2022 quarter, the unemployment rate for women was of 14.0% while for men it was of 8.9%. There was an unemployment gap of 5.1 percentage points, with women being the most affected. Also, Cartagena, according to DANE, is consider as the first city in Colombia with the highest gap of unemployment rate.  

 However, among women, there is a weaker segment: vulnerable teenage mothers. Indeed, according to the report Women and Men: Gender Gaps in Colombia written by DANE and UN Women, the number of children that women have significantly affects their Global Participation Rate (TGP). Among non-mothers, 74.0% participate in the labor market. With a daughter/son, the rate drops 2.5 percentage points; with two sons/daughters, the difference is not important, but among those with three children it is reduced to 65.2%.   

 Even though the situation has endured over time we, as a foundation that seeks the inclusion of adolescent mothers in the formal productive system, have learned many lessons and as a resultduring the months of April to June:   

• We achieved better encounter between the labor demand and the capacities of young women. This was possible thanks to our Employment and Opportunities Center (CEO) efforts on expanding knowledge of the current labor market and consolidating feedback information in all phases of the labor insertion process, through permanent dialogue with companies and young graduates. 
• We strengthened our partnership management and achieved 31 new employers. 
• We carried out 149 labor follow-ups ensuring job retention.  

• We developed 9 Workshops for strengthening skills, 212 had have benefited in these workshops. 
• We carried outthe job fair with the participation of Public Employment Service Agencies and 11 companies focused on the start of internships and employments.  
• We made the first two work closets of the year. One in Cartagena and Medellín, where we had the participation of more than 200 adolescent mothers. In this activity our graduates received training in effective image, work attitude and assertive communication and had have the possibility of acquiring clothing in excellent conditions for their working life.   
• In May we closed the first year of operation of the CREO Social Impact Bonus where more than 380 people found employment. La Juanfe participated as an operator and investor, contributing experience in the care of young adolescent mothers. 

 Finally, we will continue to work hardly so our teenage mothers manage to structure their life projects and have all the facilities to integrate into the labor system.