EU’s Young Urged to Relocate for Work

The economic crisis is looking more and more like the Dark Ages for young Europeans in search of jobs. Official figures show that one out of five actively ready to work can’t find employment.

In Spain and Greece the jobless rate for those under 25 is more than 55 percent. Unemployment is shutting young people out of active society, according to the European Commission, which has just unveiled its latest proposals to EU countries on how to tackle the problem effectively. One of the central ideas is to encourage moving around in the European labor market.

European Employment Commissioner, László Andor, said: “The Your first EURES Job search network will be improved. It will not only include targeted mobility schemes for young people, but also cover work related to apprenticeships and traineeships. The Commission also intends to develop the Your first EURES Job program further. This gives young people more possibilities to work and train in another member state, which will increase their employment opportunities.”
Fifteen to twenty-five-year-old in Eurozone states Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece are facing higher than 35 percent unemployment.

Eleven countries, including the Eurozone’s number two economy France, have at least 25 percent.
Up to 25 percent are affected in eight states, notably Sweden and Finland, and non-euro member, the UK.
Out of the 27 EU states, only four have an unemployment rate below 15 percent: Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Denmark.

Brussels has said it recognizes that these levels are unbearable. It recommends that a Europe-wide guarantee for young people be created.
The aim of this is to ensure that under-26-year-olds receive either a quality job offer or an offer of professional training within four months of finishing their studies.
The proposal is non-binding on the EU members, but they can count on support from the community budget, such as from the European Social Fund.
(source: euronews)