Getting Skills Right Career Guidance for Adults in Latin America

Career guidance for adults is a fundamental lever to help adults successfully navigate constantly evolving labour markets. As labour markets in Latin America are hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and mega trends such as globalisation and digitalisation continue to impact labour demand, support is urgently needed. Millions of adults have lost their jobs and need to identify new career options. However, career guidance for adults is still rare in Latin America. More common are vocational guidance programmes for young people, or labour intermediation services for adults. This report analyses career guidance initiatives for adults in four Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico). It emphasises the need to establish career guidance higher up on the policy agenda of the region. Lessons are drawn on how to strengthen the coverage and inclusiveness of career guidance, provision and service delivery, quality and impact, as well as governance and funding. The findings build on information collected through the 2020 Survey of Career Guidance for Adults (SCGA), an online survey of adults' experience with career guidance. Foreword Executive summary 1 Recommendations Coverage and inclusiveness Raise awareness about formal career guidance opportunities through media campaigns and active outreach to vulnerable groups Provision and service delivery Expand public provision (including PES) and associated funding to offer affordable or free high quality career guidance services to vulnerable adults Quality and impact Strengthen general public service delivery quality standards and include a component that considers career guidance specifically Develop a skills profiling tool that can be used by providers, particularly when working with adults who have no formal qualifications Governance and funding Consider forming a working group with all relevant stakeholders to improve career guidance policy and provision Develop a system of regular reporting standards between local employment offices, national ministries and other relevant public bodies, and facilitate international exchanges of good practice Design financial measures to reduce the direct and indirect costs of career guidance for vulnerable adults 2 Why is career guidance for adults important in Latin America? Introduction Labour market context in Latin America Substantial underutilisation and underdevelopment of skills Education and skills supply in Latin America Skills imbalances in Latin America Career guidance for adults in Latin America References Notes 3 Coverage and inclusiveness Introduction What share of adults uses career guidance services in Latin America? Is adult career guidance in Latin American countries inclusive? Why do adults seek career guidance in Latin America? What are the barriers to accessing career guidance in Latin America? What share of adults look online for information on employment and training options in Latin America? Informal means to access information about employment, education and training opportunities References Notes 4 Provision and service delivery Introduction Which actors deliver career guidance services to adults in Latin America? Overview of different providers Private career guidance providers Education and training institutions Employers and employer groups Public employment services and dedicated public career guidance services Trade unions Associations Which channels are used for career guidance service delivery in Latin America? How do adults learn about career guidance services? How have career guidance providers in Latin America adapted their offer in the context of the COVID-19 crisis? References Notes 5 Quality and impact Introduction How satisfied are adults with career guidance services in Latin American countries? What are the outcomes of guidance in Latin American countries? Policies to promote high-quality career guidance services in Latin America Using high-quality labour market information Tailoring career guidance services to adults’ needs Standardising training and qualifications of career guidance advisors Certifying providers against quality standards in service delivery Monitoring outcomes References Note 6 Governance and funding Introduction How is career guidance governed in Latin America? Horizontal co-ordination between ministries Vertical co-ordination between levels of government Engaging stakeholders in setting career guidance policy What is the role of career guidance strategies in Latin America? How is career guidance for adults funded in Latin America? Adults’ out-of-pocket spending Government contribution to funding Employers’ contribution to funding References Note Annex A. Methodology note on Survey of Career Guidance for Adults References Notes Annex A. Methodology note on Survey of Career Guidance for Adults