SJI 2.3 Persons having new or better employment

Persons counted can have either better employment or new employment. Only persons who have participated in Vocational Skills Development (VSD) activities supported by Helvetas aimed at helping people gaining new or better jobs are counted. These activities can be implemented by Helvetas or by implementing partner organisations. There should be a (plausible) link between the interventions and the employment situation of the person.

Employment: a person is considered in employment if:

• Working at least 20 hours/week;

• During at least 3 months.

New employment means that the person's employment after the project intervention is distinct from their previous employment status or job at the baseline (in a positive direction). This employment is typically better in terms of job type, position, or employer. Employment here includes wage-employment and self-employment in the informal or formal sector.

Better employment refers to improvements in employment situation compared to their baseline status. This includes:

• Incomes are significantly higher;

• Vulnerability at work is reduced (e.g., through formalization of employment, moving from a job in the informal to the formal economy, better job prospects);

• Other benefits are provided compared to the initial employment situation of the beneficiaries, such as security in the workplace or social protection. This includes 'on-the-job' training for workers already employed who have improved their employment situation.

It is important to note that a job is only better if there is at least one improvement in the employment situation, and other aspects (income, vulnerability and benefits, at least stays the same, they should not worsen).

VSD 214 and VSD 215

• Gender

• Age

• Belonging to a left behind/vulnerable population group

• new/better employment

Individuals that have participated in any Helvetas' VSD programmes (primary stakeholders). Or were reached through PSD e.g. business growth and more jobs were created. Sometimes there is an overlap between the VSD and PSD activties.

Note this indicator does not include persons in Cash-for-Work programs as these are typically short-term and do not lead to sustained employment. However, there are situations where Cash-for-Work may be included, such as when the program provides significant skills training that leads to longer-term employment, transitions participants into permanent roles, formalizes previously informal work, or offers income stability in contexts with scarce job opportunities.

The data for this indicator is collected through surveys using the standardized Kobo form.

If you are conducting a tracer study, you do not need to use the SJI 2.3 questionnaire, as the tracer study provides more accurate and comprehensive data for reporting on this indicator.

Once after activity participation, for instance after 12 months. No baseline is needed for this survey.

Conduct surveys (tracer studies) to verify the employment status of participants. It is recommended that individuals participating in VSD programmes should be followed up twice after activity participation, for instance once after six months and once again after 12 months.  

If possible, also persons dropping out of the training should be tracked – this would eventually allow the programme to make stronger claims about the effects of its training on the youths’ employment situation.

Challenge: There might be an overlap between VSD and PSD programs. For example, individuals could be counted twice if they participate in a vocational training program and then start working in a business supported by Helvetas.

Approach: To avoid double counting, indicator SJI 2.3 Number of persons having new or better employment should only include individuals who participate in a vocational training programme, while PSD programs use indicator SJI 2.4 Number of decent jobs created.  

Challenge: Ensuring accurate self-reported employment data can be challenging.

Approach: Use multiple data sources to cross-verify employment data, such as employment records, job contracts, and income statements.

Challenge: Isolating the impact of the intervention from other factors influencing employment.

Approach: Implement control groups or use statistical methods like propensity score matching to isolate the specific effects of the intervention, ensuring that the measured impact is directly attributable to the project.

SDC:

IED_ARI_2 Number of persons having new or better employment

MIG_ARI_4 Number of migrants and forcibly displaced persons benefiting from services that protect their rights and enable them to access decent work opportunities.
 
USAID:

EG.6-12 Percentage of individuals with new employment following participation in USG-assisted workforce development programs

EG.6-15 Percent of individuals with better employment following participation in USG-assisted workforce development programs

• SJI 2.1 Number of people with increased income

• SJI 2.2 Number and proportion of supported businesses with increased profit

• SJI 2.4 Number of (decent) jobs created

• PSD 2.3.1 Number of businesses having gained access to and/or making use of formal or non-formal financial products and services

• VSD 2.2.2 Number of persons who completed a new or better vocational skills development

• HUM 006 Number of people provided with resources that enable them to protect and start rebuilding livelihood assets