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 apr

sep feb jul

decmaj

okt maraug

2010 junnov apr

sep feb jul

decmaj

okt maraug

4100

4150

4200

4250

4300

4350

4400

4450

4500

4550

4600

Thou

sand

s

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

Unemployment rate age 25 to 74 2012

Source: Eurostat

Norway

Austria

Luxe

mbourg

Netherl

ands

German

y

Roman

ia

Sweden

United

King

dom

Czech

Rep

ublic

Finlan

d

Denmark

Belgium

Sloven

ia

Poland

France

Estonia Ita

ly

Hunga

ry

Cyprus

Bulgari

a

Lithu

ania

Slovak

ia

Irelan

dLa

tvia

Portug

al

Greece

Spain

0

5

10

15

20

25

Countries European Union (27 countries)

Perc

ent

Youth (15-24 years) unemployment rate 2012

Source: Eurostat

German

y

Norway

Austria

Netherl

ands

Denmark

Luxe

mbourg

Finlan

d

Czech

Rep

ublic

Belgium

Sloven

ia

Estonia

United

King

dom

Roman

ia

Sweden

France

Lithu

ania

Poland

Cyprus

Bulgari

a

Hunga

ryLa

tvia

Irelan

d

Slovak

iaIta

ly

Portug

al

Spain

Greece

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Countries European Union (27 countries)

Perc

ent

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 o

f une

mpl

oyed

(100

0)

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 15-17

Age 18-19

Age 20-24

Wom

enMen

Primary

edu

Second

ary edu

Tertia

ry ed

u

Swedish

born

Foreign

born0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2012 2013

Per

cent

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