Promoting Young women’s employment

With an increasing youth unemployment rate it has become increasingly evident that new measures are required to address the lack of opportunity and sustainable income for young women.

How many young people are unemployed in Nepal?

In Nepal, the unemployment rate for 2021 was 5.05%, a 0.33% increase from 2020. In 2020 it was 4.72%, a 1.63% increase from 2019. Young people aged 15-24 and 25-34 years have seen the biggest increases in unemployment. Young women reported a higher unemployment rate of 13.1%, which is 2.8% higher than young men.

There are huge disparities in other labour market indicators between women and men. Female employment-to-population is 22.9% which is 25.4% lower than for men. The female labour force participation rate is 26.3% compared to 53.8% for men.

Nepalese employees earn an average of NPR.17,809 per month. However, on average, men earn NPR. 5,834 more than women.

What is Plan International Nepal doing?

We provide market-driven skills training for young women aged 18-24, including life skills and on-the-job training, to create job or entrepreneurship opportunities. We identify key sectors where we can link employers with young people so we can have the biggest possible impact.

Sushma working as an excavator operator — A young woman training to be a barista.

Plan International Nepal is implementing the Promoting Young Women in Employment in Pokhara project in partnership with the Rights for Children (R4C).

Young people from disadvantaged families are often less educated, skilled and have fewer opportunities. Therefore, they make up the largest segment of the migrant population. As they migrate, within and outside of the country, they become further vulnerable as they cannot find appropriate employment.

Although the tourism sector has good prospects for employment, girls and young women have fewer chances to be employed than men.

Pokhara is a major economic hub in Nepal which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. There is a huge potential for job creation and employment opportunities for young people in Pokhara particularly in the tourism industry.

The project supports young women to learn marketable skills and prepares them for emerging opportunities in tourism and other sectors identified as having good prospects for youth employment. We work alongside Gate Vocational Private Limited and Three Sister Adventure Trekking Private Limited to help young women learn the skills they need to succeed in the world of work.

Project approach

Employers in indentified sectors identify skills they require from young women and provide skills training and on the job experience.
Promoting good working conditons and gender equality working alongside private sector employees and associations such as the Hotel Association of Nepal, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal and the Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal.
Engagement with communities and parents of young women so they are supported to participate in training programmes and then pursue a job.
Media campaigns to promote decent work and gender equality.

Project outcomes

Young women learn in-demand skills
Employers in Pokhara offer decent wages and employment opportunities
Improved working environments that meet young women’s specific needs
A better functioning labour market.

Meet the trailblazing woman in construction

Sushma is smashing stereotypes around work and is now employed in the construction industry following skills training.

“Along with the training, I learned other valuable life skills such as communication and self-protection. This has enhanced my talent and confidence,” says Yamkala working as a security guard.

“I am deaf and use sign language for communication. I started my on-the-job training. I want to inspire other young women with disabilities that nothing is impossible,” says Sapana.

“I took part in various training sessions which helped boost my confidence,” says Sushma.