Unemployment and young people : lack of qualifications and skills or more?

Abstract

Employment is an opportunity for personal and social growth, which is very important in adolescence and following years, as a person would still be discovering oneself and one's place within society. Moreover, employment of youth is also important to the labour market, however, this study focuses more on the social aspects of youth unemployment. The aim of this research is to discover causes of youth unemployment, from the perspective of the unemployed youth themselves. This should help create a more realistic picture of the situation, and awareness among society. This study used a qualitative approach, through ten semi-structured in-depth interviews, following a topic guide, with young people aged 18 to 24 who have not reach tertiary education. I also interviewed 2 professionals who work with youth, and 2 members of the general public, as secondary sources. The participants gave their opinions on causes of youth unemployment and several issues were discovered. The main factors include lack of qualification and skills, not enough opportunities within the labour market, high job requirements, inexperience, peer pressure, low self-confidence, discrimination, health and disability issues, and family problems. Lack of qualifications and skills play a big part in youth unemployment nowadays, however, they are not the only reasons. Youth unemployment is often based on the innate abilities or lack of such abilities, however, external reasons, such as lack of opportunities, are also a factor. Importance should be given to improving the standard of education of youth, however, other reasons have to be also considered, or else the problem may never be solved. Policy and practice should deal with all factors, and more importance should be given to youth unemployment as reducing this is investment for the future.