The Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour has held job seeker training for young unemployed youth in Samoa.

The training is one of the Ministry’s core functions to improve the employability of the youth within Samoa and was overseen by the M.C.I.L. Apprenticeship Employment and Labour Market Division.

The Ministry continues to guide and provide assistance to those who are looking for jobs through Samoa’s labour market information system. 

It entered into a partnership with the Samoa National Youth Council in an effort to increase levels of youth employment through a mutual information exchange about job seekers. 

The S.N.Y.C. administer a youth employment service through their E-Youth Hun Here for those between the ages of 15 to 29.

The Ministry also conducts labour market surveys every three years to cater for the above functions covering the private sector. 

Under the labour market information system, young people will be able to register their personal details as well as qualifications and experience with potential employers also able to access the data when on a recruitment drive.

Employers can also search the database for suitable candidates to fill in any vacant positions they may have.

The M.C.I.L. Chief Executive Officer Pulotu Chu-Ling was not available for comment on the job seeker training program.

Apprenticeship is a system that combines work and part-time study and involves both practical skills and understanding of theory in the trades.

It basically takes three to four years to complete with the end product the awarding of the certificate of due completion to candidates who have successfully completed the training and are considered competent in their chosen trade.

Those who successfully completed their training and are competent in their chosen trade.

More than 30 participants attended and provided feedback on how informative the training is broadening their knowledge in seeking employment.

A Samoa Government sanctioned report, “Samoa’s Second Voluntary National Review on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals” that was published last year, found that Samoa missed its 2020 target to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training. 

And while the report found that the youth (15–29 years age) in Samoa constitute 44 per cent of the active labour force, unemployment among young people still increased and almost doubled between 2012 and 2017 from 16.4 per cent to 31.9 per cent.