The youth unemployment crisis has had a profound effect on young people and the societies in which they live. Youth unemployment is a global issue that threatens to undermine the very fabric of our society. More than 75 million young people are unemployed internationally and in Europe close to one in four young people are out of work.
As a result of growing youth unemployment, young people are experiencing increased levels of poverty and social exclusion, and there is a widening economic gap between older and younger generations.
In this Policy Paper, which is an update of the 2008 Policy Paper on Youth Employment, the Youth Forum identifies the main causes of youth unemployment, including: inequalities on the labour market, a lack of provision of services to young people, and the privatisation of education. It also addresses the need to eradicate discrimination against young people.
Through this Policy Paper the Youth Forum is proposing a set of actions, based on the principles of youth-rights and equality, to tackle youth unemployment head-on and reverse a trend that is threatening the very stability and future of Europe.
