In many developing countries, labor markets are in chaos--not because there’s a lack of job opportunities, but because there are no good information networks to help job-seekers and employers find each other: Web access is low, public/private resources are few, and infrastructure is poor. As a result, many skilled workers get trapped in cycles of joblessness and hardship. However, a huge number of people in developing countries have basic cell phone access, even in rural areas. Recognizing this reality, Souktel has created a simple, phone-based JobMatch service--a software application that reduces unemployment and poverty by helping ordinary job-seekers get key job information on their phones.
Our solution is simple: from any phone, job-seekers create SMS "mini-CVs" that include basic data on their skills, location, etc. These are then sent by mobile to our central database--which hundreds of employers search daily, via web or phone. From their side, employers create similar “mini job ads” and post them on the same database—so that job-seekers can search these jobs from their own phones. The database also matches job-seekers/employers who have similar profiles, sending them SMS alerts with each other’s data.
- SMS-based querying of information databases
- SMS-based user profile creation
- SMS-based matching of similar user profiles
Employers - Middle East:
- Ernst and Young
- Red Cross/Red Crescent
- CARE International
- Deloitte
- YMCA of East Jerusalem
- Education Development Center, Inc.
Institutional/Funding Partners - Middle East
- US Agency for International Development
- World Bank - Quality Improvement Fund for Higher Education
- King Abdullah Fund for Development
- Birzeit University (Palestine)
- Najah University (Palestine)
- Arab-American University of Jenin (Palestine)
- Al-Quds Abu Dis University (Palestine)
Souktel Locations
In many developing countries, labor markets are in chaos--not because there’s a lack of job opportunities, but because there are no good information networks to help job-seekers and employers find each other: Web access is low, public/private resources are few, and infrastructure is poor. As a result, many skilled workers get trapped in cycles of joblessness and hardship. However, a huge number of people in developing countries have basic cell phone access, even in rural areas. Recognizing this reality, Souktel has created a simple, phone-based JobMatch service--a software application that reduces unemployment and poverty by helping ordinary job-seekers get key job information on their phones.
Our solution is simple: from any phone, job-seekers create SMS "mini-CVs" that include basic data on their skills, location, etc. These are then sent by mobile to our central database--which hundreds of employers search daily, via web or phone. From their side, employers create similar “mini job ads” and post them on the same database—so that job-seekers can search these jobs from their own phones. The database also matches job-seekers/employers who have similar profiles, sending them SMS alerts with each other’s data.
- SMS-based querying of information databases
- SMS-based user profile creation
- SMS-based matching of similar user profiles
Employers - Middle East:
- Ernst and Young
- Red Cross/Red Crescent
- CARE International
- Deloitte
- YMCA of East Jerusalem
- Education Development Center, Inc.
Institutional/Funding Partners - Middle East
- US Agency for International Development
- World Bank - Quality Improvement Fund for Higher Education
- King Abdullah Fund for Development
- Birzeit University (Palestine)
- Najah University (Palestine)
- Arab-American University of Jenin (Palestine)
- Al-Quds Abu Dis University (Palestine)
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