THE YOUTH GUARANTEE PROGRAM
In recent years within the EU, different measures have been taken to combat the unemployment of the youngest. The best known is The Youth Guarantee Program (since 2013). The European Union dedicates 6000 million euros to boost youth employment.
In Spain the translation of this program is being slow. The countries of northern Europe were forerunners in implementing this plan. In 1984, the Youth Guarantee Program was introduced for the first time in Sweden; It was followed by Norway, Denmark and Finland.
HOW DOES THIS PROGRAM WORK?
This program consists in preventing a young person from being unemployed or without studying for more than three months. In those three months after finishing studies or being unemployed, public employment services make a personalized evaluation and offer them a solution.
"It's not just about getting him a job, on many occasions what they require is an opportunity for academic or professional study, or some other activation measure."
RESULTS OF THIS PROGRAM
A survey conducted by the European Fund in 2011 certified that after the first three months of unemployment, 83.5% of young people loooking for employment in these countries received an offer of employment or training.
In 2015, only 32% of Spanish youth had obtained employment after six months enrolled in the Youth Guarantee, compared to 87% of French youth or 71% of Swedes.
WHY DOES IT NOT WORK THE SAME WAY IN SPAIN AS IN OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES?
According to the 2016 European Commission Report, one of the problems of its application in Spain is the inefficiency of these public services to deal with youth unemployment. The report also notes that these services do not have sufficient means to contact young people who have left the education system without a secondary education degree, among other reasons because they are generally not registered in them.
YOUTH HIRING BONUSES FOR COMPANIES
The state gives aid (reduction of the Social Security quota) to companies that hire young people as a measure against youth unemployment.
Young people under 30:
Man: 500 euros/year.
Woman: 700 euros/year.
Young people under 30 at risk of social exclusion:
Man & woman: 1650 euros/year.
Hire people with disabilities:
Man: 4500 euros/year.
Woman: 5350 euros/year.
Source: infoautonomos.eleconomista.es
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Self-employment can be a solution to the lack of job offers. The lack of liquidity or the risk of the operation make this option very difficult for young people.
The state gives a subsidy for self-employed workers up to a maximum of 10,000€ for unemployed youth aged 30 or less.
We do not have to forget that young people are only a piece of the domino fall into employment in Spain. That is to say, youth unemployment cannot be remedied without first having fixed the unemployment situation.
