REPORT World of Work REPORT FROM A 1ST GENERATION ERASMUS+ PARTNERSHIP PROJECT Unemployment remains a big challenge in the European Union. 20,8 million men and women in the EU28, and 16,2 million in the euro area were unemployed in September 2016. The number of unemployed Europeans is slowly falling, but the level remains too high. Furthermore, the unemployment rate differs a lot among the EU member states, ranging from 4% to 23,2% (September 2016). The aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis significantly increased the unemployment rate, but structural obstacles, the lack of skilled labour and other factors within countries also significantly influence the level of employment. Youth are among the groups most hit by changes in the employ- ment rate. They are the tail end in the queue seeking jobs, they are often employed temporarily without contracts, in precarious jobs and without decent working conditions. They are often the first to be dismissed when companies make staff reductions. Young people have paid a very high price for the financial crisis. Youth are also hit by the mismatch between vocation training and education, and the demands for skills from employers. Published in November 2016 © SOLIDAR WORLD OF WORK Table of Contents Foreword 5 Youth employment in Europe 8 IDC Serbia 10 FIC SOLIDAR Youth, Denmark 12 IDEAS Institute, Ireland 15 FILCAMS, Italy 16 Training camp in Copenhagen 21 Final recommendations from the World of Work 22 Annex 1 - Unemployment in Europe 25 Annex 2 - Youth Unemployment in Europe 26 REPORT | 3 WORLD OF WORK Foreword to 42,6% in South and South-Eastern Europe. Those affected are harmed not simply through Unemployment remains a big challenge in the lack of access to the labour market, they then European Union. 20,8 million men and women in suffer from a lack of income and social position, the EU28, and 16,2 million in the euro area were and reduced chances to establish themselves in unemployed in September 2016. The number of their own housing and create a family. In those unemployed Europeans is slowly falling, but the Europeans countries that are unable to create level remains too high. Furthermore, the unem- jobs for their youth, a lot of young people use the ployment rate differs a lot among the EU member EU’s right to mobility to find a job and often a new states, ranging from 4% to 23,2% (September life in another EU member state. Young people 2016). The aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis leaving their country of origin leaves their home significantly increased the unemployment rate, country with a tougher demographic challenge but structural obstacles, the lack of skilled labour and a ‘brain drain’. and other factors within countries also significant- ly influence the level of employment. In a situation of rapid demographic changes in Europe, higher demands for more and longer Youth are among the groups most hit by changes pensions, and a drop in the overall work force, in the employment rate. They are the tail end in youth unemployment is a core challenge for the queue seeking jobs, they are often employed the future. Europe cannot afford to keep young temporarily without contracts, in precarious jobs people out of the labour market. and without decent working conditions. They are often the first to be dismissed when companies The Erasmus+ project ‘WOW’ (World of Work) is a make staff reductions. Young people have paid project where informal learning and peer-to-peer a very high price for the financial crisis. Youth learning empower young individuals to engage in are also hit by the mismatch between vocation social and democratic processes that enhance their training and education, and the demands for skills self-esteem and hence their employability. It builds from employers. on the methodology of peer learning on topics that the young target groups may not be particularly Youth unemployment is one of the most funda- excited by, such as labour regulations at national mental problems in the European Union and its and EU level, rights and duties in the labour market, member states. Youth unemployment in Europe is the need to tackle long term unemployment as well extremely high with an average of 18,2% across as NEETs (young people ‘Neither in Employment, the EU28. Youth are proportionately harder hit by Education or Training’), and young people’s own unemployment than the average. In September responsibilities in the process. 2016, 4,125 million young persons under the age of 25 were unemployed. Compared with To address the problems the project highlighted, September 2015, youth unemployment has now the World of Work felt the level of key competen- come down by 425.000 in the EU28 and 243.000 cies and skills in the following target groups need in the euro area, but it still remains far too high. to be increased: • Young people who are voluntarily active in However, job opportunities and conditions for youth work; young people differ a lot throughout Europe. The • Youth workers; rate differs from 6,8% unemployed in the North • Young people who are out of work or unskilled or both. REPORT | 5 WORLD OF WORK strong personal relations to exchange ideas and The target groups involved came from Denmark, develop proposals for use in their own countries, Serbia, Italy and Ireland. and to develop a stronger future cooperation among the partner organisations. The main objectives of the project were to: • Promote participation in civic life generally, The participants in the projects have also seen and in the labour market in particular; that the European Union is not only challenged • Increase their sense of social inclusion and internally to create employment, social develop- solidarity; ment and prosperity for all. Terror is also a threat. • Empower individuals and groups towards enhanced employability and youth work; The WOW project had planned to end up with a • Promote mobility and cooperation between Final Conference in the European Parliament on youth from the partner countries; the 22nd March 2016, and also other meetings for • Raise awareness of EU Citizenship through the participants in the project were planned with peer-to-peer learning; other EU institutions. Before leaving the hotel in • Improve the capacity of involved organisa- Brussels on the morning the of 22nd March 2016, tions. the participants heard the news that a terror attack had taken place in Brussels Zaventem Airport, but The youth participants have been part of an meetings in Brussels were scheduled for that day. ‘Opinion Youth Leader Training’ on different labour The WOW participants went to their local Metro market models that include youth opportunities Station to get to a meeting point at Maelbeek Metro and conditions in education, access to the labour Station. As several participants had no Metro ticket, market, and decent working conditions in the four it was instead decided for that everyone should go partner countries. On top of that, they applied by bus. Arriving at the bus stop close to an en- youth-to-youth activities in a non-formal lear- trance to Maelbeek Metro Station, there was chaos. ning process to empower them individually. This Windows were destroyed, glass was everywhere, a gave the partner organisations new knowledge, young family was coming out of the station with the experience and greater capacity to tackle these parents bleeding, and noise blasted from ambu- challenges differently. lance and police sirens. “We left the station very fast. All events scheduled for the 22nd March 2016 were The activities have included an exchange of of course cancelled. At our debriefing everyone was experiences among the youth participants. A very shocked. Luckily the WOW participants had training seminar took place in Copenhagen, and taken the bus instead of the Metro.” After some extra they have also met in Denmark, Serbia, Italy and days trapped in the hotel everyone succeeded in Ireland. Youth were interviewed in their respective finding alternative ways to travel back to their home countries. A video for television and video clips countries. The Final Conference was not held. for social media, such as YouTube and Facebook, have been produced. The WOW project is Euro- Thanks to the project partners namely the Euro- pean youth in action. pean Commission, the EACEA (the Education, Audiovisual and Cultural Executive Agency) and This Erasmus+ project is a first generation the Erasmus+ programme, the WOW participants Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership programme. The got extra funding for holding a Final Conference focus has been on developing a strong common in the European Parliament on 7th December experience among young people. Part of all the activities in the project has been developing REPORT | 6 WORLD OF WORK average. 2016. It is very positive that the youth unemployment The economy of Ireland is a modern knowledge- rate has decreased, but there is still a long way based economy, focusing on services and to go to reach zero unemployment with better high-tech industries. As an international trading employment conditions for all youth in Europe. economy, with a small domestic market, Ireland is heavily dependent on foreign trade and invest- The partner organisations ment. The country is regularly cited as one of the most open markets in the world, rating highly in FIC, Denmark globalisation indexes. FIC is the leading partner. FIC is an NGO with about 200.000 members (collective and indivi- The Irish economy grew by an astonishing 7% - in dual), including trade union organisations. Their volume terms - in the first half of 2015. Economic youth section is called FIC SOLIDAR Youth. growth surpassed expectations again in 2015 with the likelihood now being that the economy Youth unemployment in Denmark is relatively low will again grow by more than 7%, its fastest rate in in a European context: 10,08%.