EPSU – young workers and precarious work Nick Clark Working Live Research Institute

EPSU – young workers and precarious EPSU – young workers and precarious workwork

Nick ClarkNick ClarkWorking Live Research InstituteWorking Live Research Institute

Main themesMain themes

3 Key sectors:3 Key sectors: Energy & waterEnergy & water Public administration, defence, social securityPublic administration, defence, social security Health & social careHealth & social care

16-24 year olds16-24 year olds EmploymentEmployment PrecarityPrecarity Collective bargainingCollective bargaining Training, progression & careersTraining, progression & careers

EU 27 and selected countriesEU 27 and selected countries

BulgariaBulgaria Czech RepublicCzech Republic FranceFrance GermanyGermany GreeceGreece ItalyItaly NetherlandsNetherlands SpainSpain UKUK

Youth in the European labour Youth in the European labour marketmarket

High level of unemploymentHigh level of unemployment (21% compared to (21% compared to 10%, ranging from 8% Austria to 46% Spain)10%, ranging from 8% Austria to 46% Spain)

Low activity rate Low activity rate (50-60%, compared to 70%+)(50-60%, compared to 70%+)

Increasing participation in tertiary educationIncreasing participation in tertiary education In work, more likely toIn work, more likely to

Have temporary contract (4 times more likely)Have temporary contract (4 times more likely) Work part-time involuntarilyWork part-time involuntarily Be low paidBe low paid

Less likely to Less likely to Be self-employedBe self-employed

Hit hard during the crisisHit hard during the crisis

Change in youth unemployment rates 2007-Change in youth unemployment rates 2007-2010 (EU 27)2010 (EU 27)

Change in youth unemployment rates 2007-Change in youth unemployment rates 2007-2010 (EU 27)2010 (EU 27)

Part time as % of all workers, Part time as % of all workers, 15-24 yrs 15-24 yrs

Proportion 16-24 year olds with temporary contract (Eurostat Q2 2010)

Change in temporary employmentChange in temporary employment

Activity status young peopleActivity status young peopleEU 27, 2008 EU 27, 2008 ((from EMCO report no 5 ,2010)from EMCO report no 5 ,2010)

Policy context in EuropePolicy context in Europe

Youth on the Move – Youth on the Move – Commission’s 2010 initiative, primarily aimed Commission’s 2010 initiative, primarily aimed at improving educational levels, but also to launch “Youth at improving educational levels, but also to launch “Youth employment framework”employment framework”

Interventions to support young workers in OECD countries report Interventions to support young workers in OECD countries report (World Bank 2007) found direct employment strategies in US and (World Bank 2007) found direct employment strategies in US and Canada, but not EuropeCanada, but not Europe

European Employment Observatory Review, Youth employment European Employment Observatory Review, Youth employment measures, 2010 (published Feb 2011) – no policy initiatives measures, 2010 (published Feb 2011) – no policy initiatives reported relating to state as employerreported relating to state as employer

Eurofound study (2011) finds active labour market strategies Eurofound study (2011) finds active labour market strategies common government response (sometimes contested by unions), common government response (sometimes contested by unions), but again no mention of public sector’s role as employerbut again no mention of public sector’s role as employer

““Overall, governments’ policies towards young workers have tended to emphasise the Overall, governments’ policies towards young workers have tended to emphasise the importance of getting young people into work, no matter the quality of the jobs available.”importance of getting young people into work, no matter the quality of the jobs available.”

YOUNG WORKERS & PUBLIC YOUNG WORKERS & PUBLIC SERVICESSERVICES

Youth employment by sector Youth employment by sector 2005 (EU-25)2005 (EU-25)




Ranked by proportion of youth in Ranked by proportion of youth in populationpopulation







Sectoral change in employment by age Sectoral change in employment by age 2008-2010 in France 2008-2010 in France (Schulze-Marmeling, HERA on EIRO)(Schulze-Marmeling, HERA on EIRO)




Use of agency labour Use of agency labour (CIETT figures)(CIETT figures)




Job security and age: French civil Job security and age: French civil service (2008)service (2008)



Youth as % all temps: health & social work Youth as % all temps: health & social work q1 2008-q2 2011, EU 27q1 2008-q2 2011, EU 27

Youth as % all temps: public admin, Youth as % all temps: public admin, defence, social sec.defence, social sec.q1 2008-q2 2011, EU 27q1 2008-q2 2011, EU 27

Youth as % all temps: water, wasteYouth as % all temps: water, wasteq1 2008-q2 2011, EU 27q1 2008-q2 2011, EU 27

Youth as % all temps: electricity, gas, etc.Youth as % all temps: electricity, gas, etc.q1 2008-q2 2011, EU 27q1 2008-q2 2011, EU 27

summary from datasummary from data

Unemployment becoming more widespread amongst Unemployment becoming more widespread amongst Europe’ young workersEurope’ young workers

As measures (but not definitions) of precarity, temporary As measures (but not definitions) of precarity, temporary contracts and involuntary part time working more contracts and involuntary part time working more prevalentprevalent

Public services perform worse than economy as a whole Public services perform worse than economy as a whole in employing young workers – public administration in employing young workers – public administration universally the worstuniversally the worst

Young workers more affected by crisis – particularly in Young workers more affected by crisis – particularly in public servicespublic services

Interviews – key Interviews – key themesthemes

Forms of precarious work amongst young workers Forms of precarious work amongst young workers in target sectors, in target sectors,

Social dialogue:Social dialogue: Recruitment of young workersRecruitment of young workers Training for young workersTraining for young workers transition of young workers from precarious to more transition of young workers from precarious to more

stable work stable work Precarious work:Precarious work:

Temporary contracts (including agencies)Temporary contracts (including agencies) Stages, Stages, apprenticeshipsapprenticeships

actions by unionsactions by unions

Preliminary outcome from Preliminary outcome from interviewsinterviews

absence of recruitment of young workersabsence of recruitment of young workers precarious forms of workprecarious forms of work previous agreements being abandoned or previous agreements being abandoned or

breachedbreached ending of government support programmeending of government support programme amendments to legal protectionsamendments to legal protections development of youth networksdevelopment of youth networks

Documents

EPSU – young workers and precarious work Nick Clark Working Live Research Institute