Improving the employment situation of young people in Europe

Mr. Bach Mortensen, Executive Director, Confederation of Danish Employers (DA)

Unemployment rate 15-29 years, 2010Q3

Pct.

ANM.: The unemployment rates for the 15-74 years are seasonally adjusted.Source: Extraction from Eurostat Labour Force Survey

How to combat youth unemployment

• Decent basic qualifications (reading, math etc.) for all in primary school

• Economic incentives to look for jobs or education

• A flexible and open labour market which does not exclude the young

• Increased labour market relevance of education at all levels

Vocational education and training

• One explanation for the low youth unemployment in Denmark is found in VET

• Nearly all VET-graduates are in employment after a year, which also applies to young, male immigrants

• 2/3 of the training takes place at a company

• VET-graduates attain solid work experience and can contribute to the production from day one

Vocationally trained across origin

Vocationally trained, newly educated, employed, status 2007, per cent

Anm.: Uoplyst samt militært arb. er udeladt. Faglærte arb. består af kontor- og håndværkspræget arb. samt arbejde indenfor salg, service, omsorg og landbrug mv. Ufaglært arbejde er arbejde uden særlige kvalifikationskrav.Kilde: DST, særkørsel på forskerordningen

Non-western originDanish origin

Suggestions to improve employability of young

• Education/training where young people obtain the basic competencies that companies are looking for

• A dual systems is a good way to ubtain this

• A mobile labour maret with many job-openings