COVID-19 has put strains on all sectors of the economy, but while short-term work schemes and social safety nets have prevented crisis levels of unemployment throughout Europe, the pandemic’s impacts have not been distributed evenly.
History has shown that in times of economic downturn, young people feel some of the worst impacts of the crisis. They are frequently the first to lose their jobs and remain unemployed for longer, which can have a long-term impact on their future.
The recent StartNet virtual conference discussed the European Commission’s recent policies to improve young people’s transition to work as well as best practices from practitioners involved in youth vocational training projects.
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More cooperation, greater inclusion key to preventing a ‘lockdown generation’
Already precarious in many regions of Europe, youth unemployment has spiked dramatically with the onset of COVID-19, sparking fears of another lost generation. At a recent StartNet Conference, policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders called for greater cooperation on facilitating young people’s transition to work.
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Commissioner Schmit: EU must stop rise of low-quality jobs in wake of pandemic
While impacting all parts of the economy, COVID-19 has hit young people particularly hard. Nicolas Schmit, the Commissioner for jobs and social rights, spoke with EURACTIV about the EU executive's efforts to address these challenges and avert the prospect of another 'lost generation.'
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Young people’s transition to work – a world full of options, but few opportunities?
At the beginning of the year, when the revision of the EU Youth Guarantee was being prepared, unemployment rates had been slowly but steadily decreasing for years. The policy instrument that would provide offers to young people who are not …
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A bridge to jobs
How to support young people’s transition to work during and beyond the pandemic? The recent StartNet virtual conference discussed the European Commission’s recent policies to improve young people’s transition to work with European Commissioner Nicolas Schmitt as well as best practices …