According to recent Eurostat data, 3.722 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in 2017 in the EU28, a decrease of 380,000 as compared with October 2016. The lowest youth unemployment rates were observed in Germany (6.6 %) and the Czech Republic (7,2 %), while the highest were recorded in Greece (40.2 % in August 2017), Spain (38.2 %) and Italy (34.7 %). Although these figures demonstrate progress, youth unemployment still remains high across the EU.
Under the Youth Employment Initiative, introduced in 2013 by the European Commission, the EU aimed at supporting those regions and countries that have a youth unemployment rate above 25%. In June 2017, the Council and the Parliament agreed to increase the budget for 2017-2020 by €2.4 billion. Member States have also continued to implement the Youth Guarantee plan to ensure that all individuals under 25 receive a good-quality offer within four months after leaving education or becoming unemployed. Alternative paths to learning and development, such as the European Solidarity Corps have also been taken to ensure that the need to develop practical skillssets is met.
Despite these attempts to mitigate the problem of youth employment, young people starting their careers continue to face relevant structural problems. The long practice of offering unpaid internships, poor protection services for the young workers, as well as the inconsistency between the job market and the skills cultivated during the learning process, still continue to exist.. A better exchange of information between the teaching institutions, employers and employment services is necessary in order to better tap into the potential that each young person has.
This international symposium offers a timely and invaluable opportunity to engage with the challenges underpinning unemployment trends in the EU and analyse the ways in which employers, recruiters, educational institutions and employment services can support young people in reaching their full potential. Furthermore, the delegates will have the chance to explore innovative strategies for equipping young people with the relevant skills to flourish within the current labour market.
Delegates Will
- Engage with the latest policy developments aimed at tackling youth unemployment at European level
- Develop viable solutions to boost youth employment and create quality jobs with the support of employment services and employer’s organisations
- Strategise to minimise skills mismatches in the current labour market
- Understand the importance of vocational training
- Evaluate the potential of entrepreneurship in tackling unemployment amongst young people
- Participate in interactive and constructive discussions with key stakeholders in the field of youth employment
- Discuss ways to make a smoother transition from the educational to the work environment and bridge the gaps between education providers and employers
- Share best practice in initiatives supporting young people employment opportunitie
For more information link: https://www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/event.php?evID=2772
