Targeting youth for careers in health: Identifying strategies that address the youth bulge and the global health workforce shortage

The commission aims to stimulate the creation of approximately 40 million new jobs in the health and social sectors, address the shortage of approximately 18 million health workers in low- and middle-income countries, and create decent health sector jobs, particularly for women and youth. Youth unemployment rates in selected African countries are a significant concern, with elevated risk of HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women. A multi-sectoral approach to youth in health employment is necessary to address these challenges. The Positive Youth Development Framework emphasizes the importance of youth engagement and vocation for a career in health, as well as an enabling environment that supports, values, and recognizes young people's potential and agency. The framework identifies several key assets and agency that contribute to a young person's ability to pursue a career in health, including potential and demonstrated interpersonal and STEMM skills, formal education and training, perseverance and goal setting, and positive identity and self-efficacy. As young people develop and refine these skills, they become more likely to pursue careers in health and remain in the workforce. Health employers play a critical role in optimizing and sustaining the workforce, and several best practices have been identified. These include focusing on "private-for-public-purpose" sector jobs, establishing career development paths in emerging areas, providing mentoring and continued professional development, and promoting decent work and cadre professionalization. The education sector also has a crucial role to play in building the workforce, and several strategies have been proposed, including recruiting high-potential students committed to their communities, providing opportunities for professional preparedness, further developing interpersonal and STEMM skills, investing in faculty skills as mentors, and engaging employers to develop relevant and practical curricula. The HRH2030 Program, in collaboration with various partners, has been working to address the health workforce shortage and promote youth employment in the health sector. The program has identified several key strategies, including the development of a Positive Youth Development Framework, the establishment of career development paths in emerging areas, and the provision of mentoring and continued professional development opportunities. By working together, health employers, educators, and policymakers can create a more sustainable and effective health workforce that delivers quality services to communities in need.