Unemployment and under-employment in Mongolia

Almost half the Mongolian population of 3 million is of working age. Fifty percent (50%) of those employed are in the agriculture sector, with 12% in manufacturing and 10% in services and trade. Almost 30% of the population are unemployed and 36% live below the poverty line, most in the rural areas.

Of Mongolia’s 3,000 street kids, 60% are in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and 30% of them are girls. Sixty-four percent (64%) of street children are illiterate and the remainder only have primary or secondary education. Vocational skills amongst them are non-existent.

At present, the most needed skills are in the construction, sewing, and hairdressing. Vocational schools have tuition fees that are prohibitive for most families. One of the goals of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Project is to better meet the needs of the market by evaluating the demand as well as the supply of skills training. By upgrading facilities, improving teacher training and strengthening ties between vocational institutions and employers, may maximise the results – that is, to improve the skills of unemployed and under-employed youth to increase their employment or business options.

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