Strategic Transitions for Youth Labour in Europe (STYLE)

Abstract:

The overriding aim of this project is to conduct a comparative EU-wide analysis on youth unemployment that is sensitive to gender, ethnic and class differences and the historical legacies of multi-level institutions shaping relevant policies.This aim will be achieved through 10 objectives organised around 12 research, management, dissemination and scientific coordination work packages.There are three cross-cutting research WPs that examine: Performance, policy learning and its limitations and include the production of an international handbook on Strategic Transitions for Youth Labour in Europe. Six substantive research WPs focus on issues of:• labour market mismatch in terms of education and skills as well as geographical mobility,• family and cultural barriers to employment and• the opportunities and consequences of self-employment and flexicurity.The central concept informing this project is based on a policy learning approach to address youth unemployment. This involves an ongoing process of including a wide range of EU stakeholders to inform the research and disseminate the results in different institutional conditions. It provides a recent historical analysis accounting for factors prior to, and following on from, the on-going economic crisis. It informs policy makers about what works and why.The consortium will achieve the expected impact of1) advancing the knowledge base of employment strategies to overcome youth unemployment, defining measures, methods and evaluations,2) creating a critical network of stakeholders.Outputs will include:• an international handbook on Strategic Transitions for Youth Labour in Europe,• multimedia dissemination: working papers, policy briefings, newsletters, press coverage and video podcasts,• a comparative analysis of where and under which circumstances innovative and effective policies for getting young people into work are evident, where these policies work and why,• pPolicy recommendations, from both case studies and quantitative analyses, on the impacts of these employment strategies• timely and professional dissemination to key stakeholders facilitated by the partner EurActiv.