Young people, employment and training

Unemployment rates in Spain among the total population and young people, by age cohort, 2007–2009 (%)

Source: 1st May Foundation, 2010

This greater vulnerability among young people is reflected in several aspects of employment practice and working conditions among young people including:

• the persistence of temporary contracts and high turnover rates (51.7% of Spanish young people have a temporary job compared with an average of 31.8% average for the total population);

• the growing incidence of non-labour relationships (grants and internships);

• the large (but undetermined) number of young people working in the black economy;

• the prevalence of poor working conditions (low salaries, less training and work accidents).

On the other hand, different trajectories in the transition from the education system towards the labour market can be distinguished as a consequence of educational level. Despite the fact that the economic crisis is having an impact on all groups, early school leavers are especially affected by higher levels of precariousness and vulnerability. This is reflected in higher unemployment rates; according to the Spanish Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate among young people aged 25–29 years with tertiary-level qualifications was only 14% in 2009 compared with 36% among those with only primary compulsory education.

Unfortunately, school drop-out rates in Spain are among the highest in Europe (up to 31.9% of Spanish youths between 18 and 24 years old have not completed compulsory secondary education compared with 14.9% in the EU27). Indeed, a high percentage of young people left school in order to enter the labour market during the expansive economic cycle when lots of low qualification jobs were created in Spain. Nonetheless, they have become unemployed in the current crisis.

Training as a key instrument for overcoming the crisis

Looking to the future, the Spanish economy will be shaped by two major trends – the ageing of the population and the increasing importance of knowledge-intensive activities. In line with these trends it is expected that:

• a wide array of new and substitutive jobs will appear;

• competence and qualification requirements will be higher for all staff levels;

• it will be necessary to guarantee that the knowledge and skills provided by the Spanish education system match the needs arising in its labour market.

Thus, it is of the utmost importance that Spain has a powerful vocational education and training (VET) system adapted to the requirements identified by enterprises. Because of this, the low participation of young people in VET in Spain is an issue that requires particular attention. About 48% of the total number of students enrolled in secondary education decided to follow an initial VET degree in the academic year 2009–2010. This percentage is clearly lower than existing percentages in other EU Member States (for instance Germany), though it is worth stressing that this figure has increased continuously over the last decade.

Commentary

As a whole, some of the main challenges and purposes concerning the youth labour market in Spain include issues such as:

• the promotion of job stability and the elimination of unjustified temporary employment;

• the participation of young workers in continuing education and training activities;

• the improvement of working conditions (especially salaries and qualification levels).

In addition, there are two top priorities needed to improve the labour transition process among young people in Spain – reducing early school drop-out rates and increasing participation in VET. Against this background, the most vulnerable group of young people includes those with the lowest levels of education. The main thrust of policy should be aimed at widening and enhancing the skills and qualifications of this specific group.

Iñigo Isusi, IKEI