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Recent trends in the youth labor market in Colombia: Diagnosis and policy challenges

Author

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  • Ham Andrés

    (Escuela de Gobierno Alberto Lleras Camargo, Cra. 1 No. 19-27 Bloque Aulas Au, Piso 3, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, CP111711)

  • Maldonado Darío

    (Escuela de Gobierno Alberto Lleras Camargo, Cra. 1 No. 19-27 Bloque Aulas Au, Piso 3, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, CP111711)

  • Guzmán-Gutiérrez Carlos Santiago

    (Escuela de Gobierno Alberto Lleras Camargo, Cra. 1 No. 19-27 Bloque Aulas Au, Piso 3, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, CP111711)

Abstract

This paper characterizes the labor market of youth in Colombia from 2008 to 2017. We estimate labor market indicators for individuals aged between 14 and 28 years using microdata from Colombia's household surveys over the study period. Our estimates document the main patterns and trends in the labor market of youth in labor force participation, employment, unemployment, informality, and earnings. We compare these statistics with the same indicators of adults (individuals aged between 29 and 65 years), and explore differences in characteristics within youth such as gender, region, educational attainment, socioeconomic status (SES), and experience. Results indicate that participation rate of young Colombians have increased in recent years, but are mainly employed in low-quality jobs namely unsalaried and informal. We also document marked inequalities in labor market outcomes across youth characteristics. We provide a series of recommendations to guide future youth labor policy based on these estimates as well as the critical analysis of recent youth policies in Colombia.

Suggested Citation

  • Ham Andrés & Maldonado Darío & Guzmán-Gutiérrez Carlos Santiago, 2021. "Recent trends in the youth labor market in Colombia: Diagnosis and policy challenges," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-62, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:izajlp:v:11:y:2021:i:1:p:62:n:5
    DOI: 10.2478/izajolp-2021-0007
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    Cited by:

    1. Montoya, J & Jurado, A., 2021. "Calidad del empleo agregado, formal e informal: un análisis para la economía colombiana en el periodo 2007 -2019," Documentos de trabajo - Alianza EFI 19290, Alianza EFI.
    2. Andrés Álvarez & Juan Camilo Chaparro & Carolina González & Santiago Levy & Darío Maldonado & Marcela Meléndez & Natalia Ramírez & Marta Juanita Villaveces, 2022. "Reporte ejecutivo de la Misión de Empleo de Colombia," Documentos de trabajo 20156, Escuela de Gobierno - Universidad de los Andes.
    3. Chaparro Cardona, Juan Camilo & Caly Amador, Tatiana Isabel, 2024. "Análisis de los logros educativos y la situación laboral de las personas jóvenes de Barranquilla entre 2007 y 2022," Documentos de Trabajo de Valor Público 1, Universidad EAFIT, revised 15 Apr 2024.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    youth; labor market; transition into the labor market; labor policy; Colombia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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