OECD countries commit to action plan to tackle youth joblessness

OECD governments have committed to stepping up their efforts to tackle high youth unemployment and strengthen their education systems to better prepare young people for the world of work. Endorsing the OECD’s Action Plan for Youth at the Organisation’s annual Ministerial Meeting in Paris, ministers underlined the need to focus attention on the most disadvantaged youth, including the low-skilled and immigrants, who are at most risk of long-term unemployment and social exclusion.
“Immediate action is needed to stop the crisis further damaging young people’s prospects,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría at the OECD Ministerial Meeting in Paris. “This commitment by OECD countries is encouraging. Governments must strengthen their efforts to promote the creation of jobs for youth, push ahead with their labour market reforms, and improve their education systems to give young people the opportunities they need to succeed.”
The number of young people out of work in the OECD area is nearly a third higher than in 2007 and set to rise still further in most of the countries with already very high unemployment in the months ahead. Youth unemployment rates exceeded 25% in nine OECD countries at the end of the first quarter of 2013, including Ireland, Italy, Portgual, Spain and Greece. Download the latest data. Read more...