The National Youth Employment Strategy 2015 was launched this afternoon with the aim of defining the most effective entry path towards youths’ successful integration into the labour market.
While youth unemployment in Europe is 5.6 per cent more than it was in 2008, Malta’s youth unemployment rate stands at 13.7 per cent as compared to 12.2 per cent in 2008.
Speaking at the launch this afternoon, Education Minister Dolores Cristina said that youth need guidance to seize work opportunities.
The targets which determine the effectiveness of the strategy are:
- Reducing absenteeism in compulsory education
- Increasing the participation rate in lifelong learning
- Reducing the early-school-leavers rate
- Increasing educational attainment at different levels of the education system
- Increasing participation in non-formal activities
- Reducing young people’s unemployment rate
- Reducing the young people neither in employment, education or training (NEET) rate
- Increasing the apprenticeships and traineeships
- Reducing the incidence of precarious and informal work
A youth cafe, “Youth Spot”, which aims at offering training and leisure services, was also launched by the minister at Old Theatre Street, Valletta.