Findings by Salam Watandar from interviews with 30 youth—20 girls and 10 boys—show that having practical skills, in addition to academic qualifications, plays an important role in job selection. Youth who have learned practical skills such as computer use and English are more likely to be employed in related fields. In contrast, youth who lack practical skills are mostly engaged in jobs unrelated to their field of study.
17 of the interviewees, in addition to holding a bachelor’s degree, have also acquired practical skills; however, the remaining 13, who relied solely on theoretical university education, are in unfavorable employment conditions.
Ahmad Fahim, a 28-year-old resident of Kabul and a graduate of business administration and management, says that learning computer programs changed his career path. He adds,
“After university, I learned new skills because I realized that to progress in my job and increase my income, I needed additional skills and had to align myself with the demands of the labor market.”
Bushra, a 27-year-old resident of Kunduz, says that learning computer and communication skills has contributed to her professional development as a teacher.
“I learned communication skills and how to work with technology because effective communication with students and the use of modern tools are very important in teaching. Communication skills, time management, English language, and digital literacy are among the most important skills,” she says.
Youth who lack practical skills are more likely to take jobs unrelated to their field of study.
Ahmad Farid, a 35-year-old resident of Kabul and a graduate of computer science, says that due to a lack of necessary skills, he has turned to shopkeeping. According to him, “I wish I had learned other skills. Now I only run a shop and have no practical skills; I did not pay attention to them before.”
Among the 13 youth with bachelor’s degrees who have fewer practical skills, economic problems, lack of a specific plan, limited time, and lack of motivation are cited as the main factors that have prevented them from learning practical skills.
Jamal, a 23-year-old resident of Kabul who studied computer science, says, “Economic problems, lack of motivation, and lack of hope for the future were among my main challenges that prevented me from learning new skills. My motivation was weak because, despite my efforts, I did not see any clear results or support.”
Asma, a 26-year-old resident of Kabul who graduated from the Faculty of Language and Literature, says,
“Lack of time and, more importantly, lack of motivation prevented me from learning other skills. If there are good conditions and motivation, it is possible to learn.”
Sardar Mohammad Saee, a public administration and policy expert, says that to reduce unemployment among youth, coordination must be established between government policymaking and the implementation activities of non-governmental organizations, and training programs should be made practical and results-oriented.
“Practical courses should replace repetitive lessons; internships should be made mandatory for students; awareness should be raised through radio and television; and study hours should be made more flexible,” he adds.
On the other hand, Ahmad Reshad Azimi, a university lecturer, emphasizes the importance of acquiring practical skills alongside academic knowledge. He adds that students should develop practical and applicable skills during their studies in order to gain better employment opportunities. He says,
“If students create opportunities during their studies to learn essential and practical skills alongside their academic courses, it can ensure job security in the future after graduation.”
Ahmad Wali Sazesh, an economic expert, says that skills aligned with labor market needs and technological developments play a key role in youth employment.
“The lack of skills among youth can negatively affect the country’s economy in the long term, because if they do not align with market needs, they will be left behind. The world is constantly moving, and if they do not keep up, they will gradually be left behind,” he says.
The United Nations has designated July 15 as World Youth Skills Day. In 1403 (2024), Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the organization, also emphasized the importance of education and skills development for empowering youth.
Reporter: Hosai Afghan
