Youth unemployment in Sweden and EUSara Andersson, Labour market analystStockholm, April 25, 2013

Introduction

• The unemployment rate among young adults (15-24 years) is by international comparison relatively high in Sweden but the share of long-term unemployed adolescents is rather low compared to many other EU-countries

• Young unemployed people (15-24 years) are a heterogeneous group

• Difficult to compare youth unemployment across countries because of significant differences in the institutional framework

Index

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

20082009

20102011

20122013

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

High growthNormal growthLow growth

Seasonally adjustedSource: National Institute of Economic Research (NIER)

Economic Tendency Indicator, SwedenJuly 1996 - March 2013

Number of employed

Seasonal adjustedSource: Statistics Sweden, Swedish Public Employment Service

2005 junnov

aprse

p feb juldec

majokt

maraug

2010 junnov

aprse

p feb juldec

majokt

maraug

4100

4150

4200

4250

4300

4350

4400

4450

4500

4550

4600

Th

ou

sa

nd

s

January 2005 – October 2012, forecast November 2012 – December 2014

Unemployment rate age 25 to 74 2012

Source: Eurostat

Norway

Austri

a

Luxe

mbo

urg

Nethe

rland

s

Germ

any

Roman

ia

Sweden

Unite

d Kin

gdom

Czech

Rep

ublic

Finla

nd

Denm

ark

Belgi

um

Slove

nia

Polan

d

Franc

e

Estoni

aIta

ly

Hunga

ry

Cypru

s

Bulga

ria

Lith

uani

a

Slova

kia

Irela

nd

Latvi

a

Portu

gal

Greec

e

Spain

0

5

10

15

20

25

Countries European Union (27 countries)

Pe

rce

nt

Youth (15-24 years) unemployment rate 2012

Source: Eurostat

Germ

any

Norway

Austri

a

Nethe

rland

s

Denm

ark

Luxe

mbo

urg

Finla

nd

Czech

Rep

ublic

Belgi

um

Slove

nia

Estoni

a

Unite

d Kin

gdom

Roman

ia

Sweden

Franc

e

Lith

uani

a

Polan

d

Cypru

s

Bulga

ria

Hunga

ry

Latvi

a

Irela

nd

Slova

kia Italy

Portu

gal

Spain

Greec

e0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Countries European Union (27 countries)

Pe

rce

nt

Number of long-term unemployed under 25 years

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Total Women Men

Seasonally adjusted valuesSource: Swedish Labour Force Survey, Statistics Sweden

Num

ber

of u

nem

ploy

ed (

1000

)

Number of unemployed by one year classes, March 2013

Source: Swedish Public Employment Service

Source: Swedish Public Employment Service, Statistics Sweden

Unemployment rates for different youth groups, March 2012 and March 2013

Age 15-1

7

Age 18-1

9

Age 20-2

4

Wom

enM

en

Primary

edu

Secondary

edu

Tertiary

edu

Swedish b

orn

Foreig

n born

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2012 2013

Pe

rce

nt

Youth unemployment rate by Municipality, March 2013

Objectives of the Public Employment Service's work with young people

• Our goal is that the young people who come to the Employment Service, with the help of our services and methods, as soon as possible will proceed to either work, training or education.

• Early identification of adolescents at risk of long-term unemployment.

• The work with each young unemployed must begin immediately.

• Motivate young people to continue studying, particularly if final grades from primary or secondary school are missing.

• To strengthening our relationships with employer.

• Increase the labour market mobility of young people, both in terms of geographical mobility as well as professional mobility.

Objectives of the Public Employment Service's work with young people

Number of employees 16-24 years by occupation

Occupation NumberHome-based personal care and related workers 28827Shop salespersons, non-food stores 26655Shop salespersons, food stores 22970Helpers in restaurants 20112Child-care workers 15481Assistant nurses and hospital ward assistants 11268Stock clerks and storekeepers 9715

Helpers and cleaners in offices, hotels and other establishments 7316Other office clerks 7022Carpenters and joiners 6413Heavy truck and lorry drivers 5824Waiters, waitresses and bartenders 5816Cashiers and ticket clerks 5720Attendants, psychiatric care 5707Manufacturing labourers 5087Building and related electricians 4959Motor vehicle mechanics and fitters 4815Receptionists 4677Demonstrators and telephone salespersons 4056Other machine operators and assemblers 3938Mail carriers and sorting clerks 3924Cooks 3779

Thank you for your attention!

Youth job programme

• 16-24 years and been out of work for at least three months

• Intensified activities• Opportunities to study

while participating in the program.

Early support

• In-depth Assessment and Counselling Guidance

• Individual solutions

• Early program efforts

Education at folk high school

• The target group is young people under 25 with incomplete final grades from high school

• Full-time up to three months• Preparatory and introductory courses

Young people with a functional impairment that means reduced working capacity

• Cooperation• Support from the Employment

Service Specialists• Individual Recruitment

Incentive (subsidies)

New Start Jobs – an opportunity for employment

• New Start Jobs is an opportunity for a young person to get a job

• Young people aged 20-26 who have been unemployed at least 6 months

• All employers – both private and public – can get the support

Work with employers – other support for persons under 25

• Entry Recruitment Incentive• Workplace Induction• Skill Development• Work Experience• Trial Opportunity• Professional skills assessment and validation