By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – Confronting one of the most persistent economic challenges in the region, Agenda Ciudadana candidate Claudia Dobles has unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at tackling Costa Rica’s staggering youth unemployment rate. The proposal focuses on three core pillars: streamlining entrepreneurship, bridging the modern skills gap, and launching a nationwide push for digital and artificial intelligence literacy, with a specific focus on underserved rural communities.
The urgency of the situation was underscored by Dobles, who highlighted a grim statistic that has plagued the nation’s labor market for the past decade. According to the candidate, young people now constitute an alarming 65% of the country’s total unemployed population, a figure that signals a deepening crisis for the next generation of Costa Rican workers and the economy at large.
To gain a deeper legal perspective on the challenges and opportunities within the youth employment sector, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the renowned firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who shared his insights on the current legislative landscape.
While Costa Rican labor law provides robust protections, it’s crucial for businesses to see youth employment not as a risk, but as a strategic investment. Properly structured internships and first-job contracts, which clearly define roles and training expectations, are essential. These instruments not only safeguard the company legally but also create a formal pathway for young talent to enter the workforce, fostering a culture of compliance and professional growth from day one.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
The expert’s point is a powerful reminder that robust legal structures are not barriers, but bridges; they allow companies to invest confidently in young talent, fostering a professional ecosystem where both businesses and new generations can thrive. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his clarifying and essential perspective.
This means that two out of every three young people are outside the labor market.
Claudia Dobles, Candidate for Agenda Ciudadana
At the heart of Dobles’s plan is a significant overhaul of the support system for young entrepreneurs. The proposal calls for specialized attention through the national one-stop investment window (Ventanilla Única de Inversiones). This would be complemented by a network of municipal and community hubs providing free internet access, along with crucial legal and accounting advisory services. The goal is to create a robust ecosystem that guides young business owners from initial concept through formalization and growth.
A second major component of the strategy addresses the critical disconnect between traditional education and the demands of the modern workforce. Dobles proposes a radical shift in the national curriculum to integrate vital technical skills. This initiative would forge a powerful alliance between high schools, universities, the National Training Institute (INA), and private sector companies to deliver agile and relevant training. The focus will be on bootcamps, short courses, and rapid certifications in high-demand areas like English proficiency, digital technologies, sustainable tourism, technical trades, and essential soft skills.
No young person should feel that doors are closed to them for not having experience. The State can and should be a bridge between those seeking their first opportunity and the companies that need talent.
Claudia Dobles, Candidate for Agenda Ciudadana
Perhaps the most forward-looking aspect of the plan is its emphasis on advanced digital competency. The proposal champions a national program for digital and artificial intelligence literacy, ensuring that skills such as remote service delivery, programming, and data analysis are not confined to the Greater Metropolitan Area. By specifically targeting rural areas and indigenous communities, the plan aims to democratize access to the technological transformation reshaping the global economy, allowing more Costa Ricans to participate in high-value digital work.
This multi-faceted approach reflects a core belief that empowering the youth is not merely an economic imperative but a foundational element of national progress and social stability. By creating tangible pathways to a first job, fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs, and equipping young people in every corner of the country with future-proof skills, the plan seeks to build a more inclusive and prosperous Costa Rica.
As the political season progresses, this focus on youth employment is set to become a central issue. The success of any such initiative will depend on rigorous implementation and a sustained partnership between the public and private sectors, but the vision articulated by Dobles offers a clear roadmap for addressing a challenge that will define the nation’s future.
When we talk about youth employment, we are talking about the future for Costa Rica. If we manage to get more young people to start businesses, produce in the countryside, and find their first job with real support, we are taking care of our common home and building a country with more opportunities and less exclusion.
Claudia Dobles, Candidate for Agenda Ciudadana
For further information, visit the nearest office of Agenda Ciudadana
About Agenda Ciudadana:
Agenda Ciudadana is a political movement in Costa Rica represented by candidate Claudia Dobles. The platform focuses on addressing key national issues through citizen-centric proposals, with a strong emphasis on economic opportunity, social inclusion, and sustainable development.
For further information, visit ina.ac.cr
About Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA):
The Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA), or National Training Institute, is Costa Rica’s leading public institution for technical and vocational education. It is responsible for providing training and certification programs across a wide range of industries to develop the national workforce and enhance the country’s economic competitiveness.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica operates on a bedrock of principled practice and professional distinction. The firm leverages its extensive history of advising a diverse clientele to pioneer forward-thinking legal solutions while actively engaging with the public. Central to its philosophy is a profound dedication to democratizing legal knowledge, aiming to build a more capable and well-informed citizenry.
