Youths still need jobs

UNEMPLOYMENT still remains a major problem for many youths in the country, according to a government officer.

Ministry of Youth, Employment Opportunities and Sports principal youth officer William Naisara said many youths who came to the national youth week celebrations, still highlighted unemployment as the main problem they faced.

Mr Naisara said the problems faced by youths would be taken up to the National Youth Advisory Board, which advised the Minister for Youth.

"The board facilitates a consultative structure that reaches all areas in order to gather information," he said.

Mr Naisara said the board met on a regular basis and advised the Minister for Youth who then took the issues up to the Government.

"Unemployment is still a problem for many youths because obviously many are leaving school every year," said Mr Naisara.

"Many find difficulties in getting jobs because it is hard to find the right job that is relevant to their skills.

"That is a challenge for the ministry but we see it as an opportunity to encourage small and micro enterprise development for income generation purposes."

Mr Naisara said the ministry's 14 youth officers who were each delegated one province to look after carried out training on such ventures.

He said the youth officers had income generation project targets and performance targets to achieve as well. He said the officers weren't just there for the indigenous Fijians but for all members of the community.

He said the ministry had youth employment opportunities projects in Suva for the Central/Eastern division, Lautoka for the Western division and Labasa for the Northern division.

"Counselling services on employment are provided like writing curriculum vitaes, doing job searches and how to attend a job interview," said Mr Naisara.