Work in Progress

Alaa Abu Issa

Amman, Jordan

29-year-old Alaa graduated from university six years ago, with a bachelor’s degree in English, and he’s still jobless.

He is originally from the northern city of Irbid, where jobs are scarce, so he has been applying for positions at hundreds of companies in Amman. He was interviewed, but never hired.

Earlier updates on Paola: January

Paola Alcazar

Mexico City, Mexico

Until recently, Paola Alcazar was one of Mexico’s seven million “Ninis” – the name used for young people who don’t work or study.

The last time we met Alcazar, she was torn between looking for a job and continuing with her studies. After graduating from university she struggled to pay the bills with odd jobs. But now she’s secured a fellowship in a Latin American Studies master’s program.

She is now moving forward, but uncertain of her destination – a sentiment likely shared by millions of young people across Mexico.

Earlier updates on Kelvin: January | April

Kelvin Diggs

Boston, United States

Kelvin Diggs needs a job – badly. So does his sister. And his mother.

15-year-old Kelvin has been looking for work outside of school hours for six months. His 19-year-old sister has already left school and has been applying for retail jobs in her Boston neighbourhood. Their mother Rosemary is also unemployed: she lost her job in the health industry about a year ago.

There are two more children, aged 6 and 11. Kelvin’s 78-year-old grandfather also lives in the house. The Diggs are a family of six with no income, existing solely on benefits and food stamps.

Earlier updates on Ryan: January

Ryan Preston

Leeds, United Kingdom

We have followed Ryan for a year as he’s faced constant rejection and lowered his ambitions in the face of a shrinking market with so few opportunities. But that has changed now: he finally found a job. Ryan, who has a decent set of academic qualifications, has taken a job selling broadband door-to-door. The job is 100 percent commission, with no basic salary.

But this is what constitutes success in the jobs market for the young here. Expectations of things like employment rights have gone out the window as Britain increasingly copies the economic practises of the new world order.

Earlier updates on Yoo Ran: January

See Yoo Ran

Seoul, South Korea

See Yoo Ran is 24 and graduated from the Seoul Institute of the Arts, majoring in advertising.

After graduating, she had an opportunity to work at a production company. But the hourly wage was about $2.50, significantly less than the statutory minimum wage of $4.10. So she had a range of short-term, part-time jobs at cafes and call centres. See Yoo Ran had a part time job helping to sort documents, which ended at the end of January.

One of See Yoo Ran’s passions is nail art. She found out that she could make more money with her skills in Australia than she could earn in South Korea. So she decided to try the working holiday program in Australia, and is learning English. She has yet to apply the program, and will do so later this year, probably in October.