Youth unemployment is the situation of young people between the ages of 15 and 24 who do not have a job but are willing and able to work and actively searching for a position. According to the statics, in summer 2021, 2.854 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU. Italy registers one of the highest rates of youth unemployment among the euro arena countries.

In July 2021, the youth unemployment rate in Italy was about 28 percent. Moreover, regional data show that in southern regions of Italy (Sicily, Calabria, and Campania) the rate of youth unemployment, reached almost 50 percent.

What Are The Causes Of Youth Unemployment?

There are many difficult causes for youth unemployment in Italy. Among the main reasons discussed today are the low economic and financial index of the country, the quality of education, its relevance with the requirements of the labor market, the flexibility and regulations of the labor market, the ineffective policy of overcoming unemployment, etc.

  • Economic and financial crisis. The coronavirus crisis has had a huge impact on the labor market in many countries, including Italy. Although before the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment rates in Italy were generally high, however, the coronavirus crisis’s negative impact on economic activity and employment deepened and expanded the existing problems. Due to the pandemic, Italy lost almost one million jobs in a year, and as shows in specific data on unemployment, the youngest population represented the most affected group. 

Statistics sometimes show the opposite: unemployment seems to be declining, but more in-depth research shows that many young people have not found a job but simply stopped looking for work during the coronavirus crisis. As a result, the number of unemployed people increases significantly, and the unemployment rate decreases.

 

  • The next issue concerns the legislation and regulations in this area, which sometimes indirectly affect the growth of unemployment. As workers’ rights are protected by many legal acts, employers, in many cases, avoid hiring large numbers of workers, as dismissing them in times of crisis entails financial obligations. Therefore, employers prefer to recruit their team with more experienced employees, as a result of which the young staff stays outside. So, there is a need to review the legislation, to develop more flexible regulations, so that the rights and responsibilities of the parties in crises are equal. 

 

  • Low quality of education, lack of skills, or non-compliance with the requirements of the labor market are often considered to be one of the main and most common causes of youth unemployment. Therefore, it would be expedient to regularly update the curricula, to include as many practical courses as possible, to bring them in line with the requirements of the labor market, so that the graduates, in addition to theoretical knowledge, have an idea of the whole work process and are ready to start working immediately. The role of Internships is used in this issue, which helps students to become potential candidates, therefore both educational institutions and companies have to do a lot of work in this direction. 

Too often, young people are not able to find a suitable job, not because there is no such job, but because the platform to look for is not chosen correctly. Therefore, it is very important to search a work on platforms that are constantly updated with new jobs, cooperating with a large number of trusted, verified employers. 

 

  • The next major impact on youth unemployment in Italy is also related to the education system: the school-to-work transition. After graduating from school, young Italians are unable to find work due to a lack of work experience and vocational training. It is here that many young people face problems, which in many cases disappoints them.

How can this problem be overcome? 

  • One of the best solutions would be for employers to train young beginners who do not have work experience but want to work, instead of people with ready work experience, which will allow them to gain experience and practical knowledge. As a result, the unemployment rate will decrease to some extent. And to make employers more motivated it is necessary to give them tax benefits.
  • The next one refers to youth initiatives, business programs, and startups. Definitely, in the case of certain state financial support and tax benefits, young people will be more motivated to work actively.

 Unemployment among young people is caused not only by a lack of skills, work experience, and insufficient work-related capabilities but also by low salaries. As the average wages set in the labor market are not enough for young people, the most skilled, professional, and promising professionals are leaving the country, which is an even bigger challenge. 

Vladislav Puchkov, Jooble