1. Youth Unemployment in Europe: Policy Responses
John Ditch, Network Meeting Cracow
26 – 27 October 2011

2. Youth Unemployment in Europe: Policy Responses
Overview
Key trends and data
The European Framework
The Key Challenges & Problems
Responses and examples:
Active Labour Market Policies
Social Security Benefits
Tax Systems & Labour Market Legislation
Entrepreneurship & Mobility
Conclusions

3. Youth Unemployment in Europe: Policy Responses

4. Youth Unemployment in Europe: Policy Responses
Key problems and challenges
Jobless v. Unemployed
Transitions from education to employment
Skills mismatch
Lack of work experience
Precarious employment & internships
Special groups: disabled, early leavers, ethnic minorities
Gender dimension

5. Youth Unemployment in Europe: Policy Responses
The European Context:
Europe 2020
Youth on the Move (Sept 2010)
European Council June 2011
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living & Working Conditions
European Employment Observatory
European Industrial Relations Observatory

6. Youth Unemployment in Europe: Policy Responses
Active Labour Market Policies
Job Search Assistance Schemes (but shortage of jobs and perverse impacts)
Youth Guarantee
Conditionality rules
History of poor performance

7. Youth Unemployment in Europe: Policy Responses
Social Security Benefits:
Young people: the same or different?
Special rules
Conditionality and education
Moral hazard and perverse effects

8. Youth Unemployment in Europe: Policy Responses
Tax Systems & Labour Market Legislation
Phenomena of dual labour markets
Some evidence that flexible labour markets first to be impacted by recession but first to recover.
Adjustments to National Minimum Wage for young people
Variation in fixed-term contracts
Hiring subsidies and reductions in non-cost wage costs of labour

9. Youth Unemployment in Europe: Policy Responses
Entrepreneurship and Mobility:
Self-employment as opportunity: business planning, support and guidance
Erasmus for youth entrepreneurs
European Credit Transfer and Accreditation
European qualifications framework for LLL

10. Youth Unemployment in Europe: Policy Responses
Conclusions:
Importance of governments rather than other social actors as key driving force
Importance of ALMPs in most countries
Importance of continued investment in education, training and apprenticeships (despite austerity cutbacks)
Concern about erosion of rights of young people and rise in unpaid internships

11. Youth Unemployment in Europe: Policy Responses
Conclusions (continued):
An ‘inarticulate’ debate between interests of young and older workers
Significance and long-term impact of unemployment and precarious employment.