Rural and semi-rural communes of the Metropolitan and Valparaíso Regions in Chile were faced with the challenge of high unemployment rates among vulnerable young people and women. These groups often struggled to secure formal job opportunities with decent salaries and social security benefits due to lack of skills, proper linkages to opportunities and biases among recruiters. The unemployment rates for young women were particularly high, reaching up to 24.1%, significantly above the national average. This situation highlighted a need for targeted interventions to improve employability and access to quality jobs for these vulnerable populations, enabling them to transition from unemployment into the labour market.

To address these challenges, Anglo American, IDB Lab and Technoserve created the EmpleaT Program to develop a comprehensive model that aligns the skills of women and youth with labour market demands, enabling them to transition into the labour market. This includes certified training in high-demand trades and personalized counselling to enhance socioemotional skills, coupled with workshops focused on empowerment skills like self-leadership and self-confidence. Technical training in the program was supported by the National Training and Employment Service (SENCE). The program emphasizes strengthening the labour ecosystem by improving coordination among institutions and promoting female inclusion in traditionally male-dominated fields, such as industrial maintenance and welding. EmpleaT drove a significant transformation within the private sector by partnering with recruiters to dismantle misconceptions that excluded women from jobs. Through creating gender inclusion action plans and comprehensive mentorship, EmpleaT successfully supported private actors in achieving gender inclusion goals. Key stakeholders in this initiative include the government, local municipalities through OMIL, the Women Heads of Household Programs under the National Service for Women and Gender Equality, local private companies, and technical-professional education institutions. This program was initiated by Anglo American and co-financed by IDB Lab for the first three years and then supported by Anglo American due to the company's focus on supporting employment in young people and women.