Decent Work and Quality Jobs for Young People

Decent Work and Quality Jobs for Young People

The European Union and its respective Member States have significant focus on youth and their future. The concept of NEETs (young people not in employment, education and training) has quickly entered the language of the Europeans, and the focus on youth employment is bigger than ever.

This is a focus we all must retain, but we also need to focus on youth that is active. A ‘NEET’ will quickly fall of the statistics if he or she enrolls in training, and an unemployed youngster will cause decrease in the youth unemployment rate as soon as he or she starts working. These are quantitative goals that are very important, but it is as important to actually engage youth in matters that concern them. Youth that is already active in improvement of the labour market must be offered a platform where they can define, develop and implement their own projects. They must be offered possibilities to influence the labour market and their interest must be nourished.

“Decent Work for European Youth” has been such a project. Our goal and mission has been to give youth a platform where they can meet and inspire each other and take ownership of the activities that would secure decent work for European youth. The focus of the project has predominantly and intentionally been on the practical exchanges, with one of the main activities being a study trip to Denmark. Here, the young people from Ireland and Italy were hosted by the young activists from the Danish Job Patrol. During the couple of days of paying visits to Danish companies, the young participants from the three countries became very motivated to establish a lasting cooperation.