BTN News: The ‘Empleo Hay’ initiative, spearheaded by the Cámara Colombo Americana (AmCham Colombia) and funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, has made remarkable strides in transforming the lives of Colombian youth since its launch in 2021. This program has become a beacon of hope for over 10,000 young people across Colombia, offering them not just employment but a sustainable pathway to build a meaningful future. By combining targeted training with direct job placement, ‘Empleo Hay’ has not only provided formal employment opportunities to young people in major cities like Bogotá, Cali, MedellÃn, and Cartagena but has also equipped them with the skills necessary to thrive in today’s competitive job market.
Since its inception in October 2021, the initiative has rapidly scaled, focusing its initial months on the implementation and training phases. The program has successfully connected over 10,000 youths with job opportunities, while also facilitating the professional development of 8,000 individuals. For many, this program marks their first experience with formal employment—58% of the participants secured their very first job through this initiative.
A standout feature of the ‘Empleo Hay’ program is its emphasis on bilingualism, primarily in English, which is a critical skill in the globalized job market. More than 4,000 young participants have achieved B2 or C1 level certifications in English, significantly boosting their employability and enabling them to access better-paid formal jobs. As MarÃa Claudia Lacouture, president of AmCham Colombia, emphasized, “Mastery of a second language not only broadens their job opportunities but also positions them for roles with more competitive salaries in the market.”
The program’s success can be attributed to the comprehensive training provided, made possible by the ‘Pacto por las Oportunidades’ initiative. This initiative, aimed at contributing to Colombia’s economic growth, has fostered a dialogue among 350 companies dedicated to economic development and has been instrumental in preparing these young individuals for the workforce. With 850 companies participating in ‘Empleo Hay’ and over 40 courses offered, the program represents a significant investment of 41.9 billion pesos, with 28.2 billion pesos allocated to free training and 10.4 billion pesos set aside as financial incentives. These incentives, amounting to 564.2 billion pesos, are conditional upon the completion of training processes, ensuring that participants can focus on their education without the added stress of financial constraints.
The sectors that have welcomed these young professionals include telecommunications, BPO, contact centers, IT, commerce, sales, services, logistics, foreign trade, administration, accounting, manufacturing, hospitality, gastronomy, transportation, and health. Furthermore, the program has provided specialized training to 1,863 youths in emerging fields like data analysis, web development (React), Java development, .NET development, SQL Server administration, Power BI, office tools, advanced Excel, digital marketing, and algorithmic programming.
AmCham Colombia’s initiative has demonstrated the private sector’s commitment to nurturing skilled and motivated talent. Companies across various industries, from telecommunications to software, logistics, and manufacturing, have integrated these young individuals into their workforce, often on permanent contracts. This underlines the quality and relevance of the training provided by ‘Empleo Hay.’
For many participants, the program has been transformative. Silvia Rosero, a professional in Politics and International Relations, now working with a multilateral organization in Thailand, credits ‘Empleo Hay’ not only for improving her English but also for opening doors to international employment opportunities. Similarly, Carlos Reyes, an agricultural engineer from Bogotá and the program’s 10,000th beneficiary, is now employed at Casa Toro in John Deere. “I’m very happy with the process and that such programs and tools exist to reduce unemployment,” Reyes commented.
The ‘Empleo Hay’ initiative stands as a testament to what can be achieved when the private sector, non-profit organizations, and motivated individuals come together to tackle unemployment and create sustainable opportunities for young people. Through its comprehensive training and strategic job placement, the program is not just providing jobs—it’s helping build futures.
