Economic growth and skills development in disadvantaged youth transitions in Latin America. New opportunities to face inequalities?

CLAUDIA JACINTO

Oxford

Congreso; Congreso Global Challenges for Education; 2011

Association for international and Comparative Education

The requirements for obtaining a quality job in Latin America are drifting towards the completion of upper secondary school in most of the countries. In a highly segmented job market, opportunities to access the most productive sectors are more and more reserved for those with that diploma or higher degrees. But the problem is not only to get the secondary school diploma. Even if the region has had economic growth during 2000 it was not enough for massive inclusion in formal employment due to the high levels of informality. The paper, based on some household data, show that for poor young people it is difficult to get a good job even if they have finished the upper secondary school. As a consequence, social mobility based on secondary school diplomas is weak. Based on this evidence, the paper examines whether vocational training is increasing job market opportunities and social integration of poor youngsters who have already  got their secondary diploma and/or have participated in a second  chance program.  Can vocational training contribute to break the social reproduction of inequalities when associated to secondary school diplomas? A qualitative on going case study in Argentina provide some evidence to discuss the impact of getting a secondary school diploma and a vocational training certificate on disadvantaged youth trajectories. The conclusions lead to the question of the implications for public policies.