02.03.2021

How will the EU deal with youth unemployment because of Covid-19

For the first time since the financial crisis of 2008-2009, youth unemployment in the EU stands out as a serious problem. Following measures to tackle and control the process, Covid-19 re-catalyzed it, affecting one in six young people, according to the European Trade Union Confederation.

In numbers, this is 17.1 percent, and the growth is precisely in the countries affected during the financial crisis. And if then in Eastern Europe and Bulgaria unemployment appeared more as a problem in pre-retirement age, as is now commented to BNR MP Radan Kanev, a member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs in the European Parliament:

"With the deepening integration of Bulgaria into the pan-European labor market, we see this phenomenon of youth unemployment in our countries as well. Both lower employment levels and lower pay, part-time, precarious working hours, various forms of employment that do not guarantee enough income, enough social benefits, or the availability of health and pension insurance.'

Jobless

As early as last March, when a state of emergency was declared in our country due to Covid-19, many young people in the sectors of tourism, restaurants and entertainment began to register with the Labor Offices.

The Employment Agency summarizes that from the beginning of the crown crisis until the end of January this year, about 26 thousand young people in the country are registered as unemployed. This is 35 percent of those who use the services of the Employment Agency.

Recommendation of the European Council

Activity and flexibility will be among the main qualities that EU Member States will have to promote among young people. This is enshrined in the Recommendation on an enhanced youth guarantee - a bridge to jobs - adopted last October by the European Council. How will they do it in the Labor Offices?

"Priority measures include job creation, as well as various ways to increase activity - such as counseling, counseling, advocacy, vocational education and training - in particular through apprenticeships or so-called dual training. And through the exchange of good practices, the aim will be to strengthen the existing networks for young entrepreneurs at national and local level, "explained the Employment Agency.

Additional resources from the European Social Fund

And if all this is to become a reality from written ideas, in the European Recovery Plan, in the next multiannual EU budget and specifically in this year's budget, efforts are being made to direct part of the European Social Fund specifically to tackling youth issues.

A percentage of about a quarter of the European Social Fund must be set aside - especially in countries with high unemployment - only for the problem of youth unemployment and for the gradual strengthening of the youth guarantee - a long-term EU policy aimed at it is in the foreseeable future that there will be no young people who do not study and work at the same time.

Lessons for the future

How these funds will be distributed depends on the national authorities, the MEP added. The opinion of a number of employment experts is that Covid-19 has only accelerated labor market processes, such as the growth of telework and the digitalisation of the economy. Each of them - requiring different competencies and that is why it is ticking like a clockwork mechanism for employment, if large-scale investments in education are not acted upon in time.