SAN SALVADOR–The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), along with important allies in the government, private sector and NGOs, celebrated the achievements of USAID’s $7.5 million Improving Access to Employment Program that resulted in 14,622 jobs for Salvadorans in the course of four years.

The Improving Access to Employment Program was launched in 2009 with the explicit goal of improving the skills of the Salvadoran labor market to better match the workforce needs of the private sector, one of the goals under the Partnership for Growth Initiative, signed between the governments of the United States and El Salvador in 2011.

Through the   "Committed Youth - I Make The Difference,"  and “Youth 360” components of the program, USAID helped at-risk youth gain employment and promoted greater employment opportunities for people with disabilities.  The Access to Employment Program improved the career guidance system of the Ministry of Labor, vocational training programs, and created the first website dedicated to career guidance in El Salvador (www.elijomifuturo.com).

Activities fomented partnerships with the private sector and promoted the certification of occupational skills and job competencies and improved the labor market’s information system.

Through several alliances, the program built sustainable relationships with government institutions, private companies, educational institutions and NGOs to train, certify and hire Salvadorans, improved and updated training curricula for guidance counselors, and developed innovative strategies in the employment field. These partnerships will allow the activities started by USAID to continue.

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