Sofis Solutions launches call for applications for the "My First Job" Program

Montevideo, March 1, 2021.

The "My First Job" Program is an initiative designed by Sofis Solutions aimed at improving the quality of life for young people between the ages of 18 and 29. It does so by creating opportunities for them to gain their first work experience in the IT field or related areas, allowing them to put into practice the knowledge acquired during their academic training. This serves as a foundation for their professional development and contributes to improving their living conditions and those of their families.

Lack of experience is considered one of the main obstacles young people face when entering the workforce. As a result, this issue contributes to increased unemployment, informality, and inactivity among youth worldwide.

According to the 2019 Labor Overview for Latin America and the Caribbean by the International Labour Organization (ILO), statistics clearly show how difficult it is to be young in the region's labor markets. In a context of slower economic growth in 2019, young people (ages 15 to 24) experienced negative impacts on their working conditions. The youth unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points, affecting 19.8% of young job seekers in the region. In contrast, the indicator remained unchanged among adults aged 25 and older.

Young people are three times more likely than adults (aged 25 and over) to be unemployed. This is partly due to their limited work experience, which puts them at a disadvantage when applying for entry-level jobs, as well as structural barriers that prevent them from joining the workforce.

In response to this challenge, Sofis Solutions is taking action within its sphere of influence to create new job opportunities for young people aged 18 to 29 who have not yet had their first work experience—specifically in the IT field or related areas. In this way, spaces are facilitated and promoted for them to apply the knowledge gained during their academic training.

The "My First Job" Program aims to provide young people with the tools for professional practice through access to their first formal employment, where they can acquire new skills through the "learning by doing" approach. It also offers an opportunity to interact with peers of the same age group as well as professionals with more experience in a new social environment.

To achieve this, Sofis Solutions carries out an annual call for applicants that promotes the integration of young people into the workforce. The initiative emphasizes creating equal opportunities for all genders to access decent employment. The 2021 call will focus on offering first work experience opportunities in the areas of Testing and Mobile Application Development. It will launch on March 1, 2021, in collaboration with Sofis Solutions' strategic partners, including the Forge Foundation and the Software Testing Center (CES).

Ultimately, this initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, which seeks to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all. Additionally, it contributes to target 8.b: By 2030, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization.