Youth unemployment rates in Europe are rising, rising by the month. European leaders are constantly holding councils to tackle the major issue. However, those in charge insist that what is needed are immediate, drastic and practical solutions.
As shown by the data of the Statistical Office of the European Union, the greatest burden of youth unemployment is borne by the memorandum countries. Unemployment rates for young people are approaching 58%, and long-term unemployment indicates that they will continue to reach record levels.
As for Cyprus, in September this year the percentage of unemployed young people climbed to 43,3% with multidimensional and multilevel consequences.
Activate immediately
There is an urgent need to activate and take new measures to support young people in tackling unemployment, both locally and at European level.
According to the latest Eurostat data, an estimated 26.5 million people in Europe were unemployed in October 2013. In terms of unemployed young people, over the same period the figure reached 23,7%.
The data of youth unemployment in Cyprus are also shocking as in October 2013 they show that there are 75000 registered unemployed, now occupying the 3rd place in unemployment rate after Greece and Spain.
Unemployment in Cyprus rose to alarming levels in the third quarter of 2012 with young people being the biggest victims.
According to the Labor Force Survey of the Statistical Service, the unemployed increased to 53.400, corresponding to 12,1% of the labor force, compared to 11,3% in the previous quarter and 7,8% in the corresponding quarter of 2011.
The unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 24 is particularly high, reaching 26,4% of the active workforce of these ages, from 25,9% in the previous quarter and 22,2% in the corresponding quarter of 2011.
Unemployment in Cyprus rose to 17,1% of the active population and in absolute numbers to 76.000 people in September, compared to 16,9% or 75.000 people in August, according to data released by Eurostat.
In our country there was the largest annual percentage increase in unemployment among the countries of the Eurozone, while it had the third worst performance after Greece and Spain.
According to Eurostat seasonally adjusted data, the average unemployment rate in the euro area was 12,2% of the active population in September and 11,0% in the EU as a whole, remaining unchanged in both cases compared to August.
Regarding the individual performance of Cyprus, the unemployment rate for men was 17,3%, for women 16,9% and for young people under 25 43,9% or 18.000 people. The average unemployment rate in the Eurozone was 12,1% for men, 12,3% for women and 25% for young people under 24,1.
For Greece, Eurostat data refer to July, when total unemployment rose to 27,6% (1,374 million people), which was the highest rate in the EU. In the individual categories in Greece, the unemployment rate for men was 25,0%, in women 31,1% and in young people under 25 57,3%. Greece had the highest unemployment rate among women and young people in the EU.
The EU had 26,872 million unemployed in September, of which 19,447 were in the Eurozone. In one year, unemployment rose by 996.000 people in the Eurozone.
The countries in which the largest increase in unemployment in a year was recorded were Cyprus (from 12,7% to 17,1%) and Greece (from 25,0% to 27,6%).
In the same month, the number of unemployed under the age of 25 reached 5,584 million in the EU as a whole, of which 3,548 million were from Eurozone countries. Within a year the number of unemployed in this category increased by 8.000 in the Eurozone.
Greece (57,3%) and Spain (56,5%) recorded the highest youth unemployment rates. The lowest percentages were collected by Germany (7,7%) and Austria (8,7%).
Clearly all this data is creating a negative climate. Insecurity, uncertainty, fear are the main emotions of today's young people. The problem needs to be addressed immediately and crucially with practical, immediate and realistic solutions, taking into account the pulse of young people, the data of society and the economy, the needs and the possibilities that exist.
On the positive side, employability is a top priority for Europe in 2014-2020, with the aim of creating new jobs through research, technological development and innovation, developing new employment skills by young people and strengthening youth entrepreneurship.
Source: FILELEFTHEROS