The statistics on youth unemployment (persons aged 15-24 years) in Europe are, to say the least, abysmal. The average rate of youth unemployment in the 28 member states of the European Union is 19 per cent. We feel very little the impact of this issue as the rate of Malta is seven per cent – the lowest in the EU. The comparable rate in Spain is 44 per cent and in Greece, 50 per cent.

It is evidently a situation that is not sustainable as we are risking having a significant part of a generation that has never worked. The economic and social implications of such a situation can be exceedingly negative.

What has led to this situation is the lack of new job opportunities in a number of EU countries. One other contributing factor has been the increasing number of persons who reach retirement age who continue working, either because they feel that they still have the energy to do so or because they cannot afford otherwise. It could also be that such persons would be the only member in the household who is in a job and so needs to continue working to sustain the household economically.

Whatever the reason, it has become harder, especially for unskilled and semi-skilled young people across the EU to find work. Even graduates are struggling to find a job in line with their expertise. No wonder there are European leaders who are now clamouring for immediate answers on economic growth and youth issues.

Last week’s meeting of the Mediterranean countries, which are members of the EU, asked for an EU with less austerity and less regulation.

European politicians have all expressed sympathy for young people out of a job, as what was already a difficult situation became a catastrophic one after the financial crisis in 2008 and the subsequent economic recession.

If reforms in education, labour legislation, taxation and other areas are needed to address youth unemployment, then countries should be bold enough to have these reforms implemented

The policy response to this situation has been to place the unemployed youth into work schemes and vocational training. For example, France (which has a youth unemployment rate of 24 per cent) announced a €2 billion jobs package aimed at placing 50,000 unemployed young people into vocational training programmes. This is in addition to the 150,000 persons announced late last year. Of these, France shall be placing 150,000 persons in civil service volunteer programmes on top of the 60,000 young people enrolled in this programme in 2015.

Germany’s answer to the issue of youth unemployment has also been to devise work schemes and skills centres that aim to make the young ready for work at least by the time they are 30. These could include the use of internships, short-term and flexible contracts. This has helped German companies to cut costs to afford the hugely expensive remuneration packages negotiated by older, often unionised, workers. Young people who are in a job have invariably provided employers with opportunities for savings.

This has led to a new situation not just in Germany but in other countries as well. There is now an increasing number of young people across the EU who continue living with their parents, whereas previous generations would have long left the family nest. This is delaying the time by when young people achieve economic independence. For example, in Italy, it is estimated that young people achieve economic independence by 35 years of age, later than previous generations.

I believe that each country needs to find its own solutions on how to best tackle youth unemployment.

Reskilling and/or upskilling could be essential to reach solutions, as could providing work experience to such persons in the public sector. On the other hand, whatever measures are taken should not be simply attempts at postponing the problem.

If reforms in education, labour legislation, taxation and other areas are needed to address youth unemployment, then countries should be bold enough to have these reforms implemented.

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