Social inclusion of young people

Since the onset of the economic crisis, the unemployment level among young people has risen sharply and although an improvement is now being registered some EU countries still have stubbornly high youth unemployment rates. Young people, especially those who are not in employment, education or training (NEET), are now the group at highest risk of social exclusion, with severe consequences not only for the individuals concerned but for the economy and society as a whole. Through its Youth Strategy 2010–2018, the EU has adopted a comprehensive and holistic approach to the social inclusion of young people. While the Youth Guarantee (which guarantees young people a work or training placement) seeks to intervene quickly and help young people back into the labour market, there are many other policies and measures at EU, Member State and regional level promoting the social inclusion of young people. This report discusses the first year of implementation of the Youth Guarantee and draws on case study findings showcasing successful initiatives aimed at preventing the social exclusion of young people in the EU. The 10 country reports on early implementations of the Youth Guarantee can also be downloaded below.