Thematic focus on ‘Apprenticeship-type schemes and work-based learning structured programmes’

The economic crisis has hit young people particularly hard and more young people face increasing difficulties in setting their foothold into the labour market. Against this context, there is a broad consensus today among policy-makers, social partners and experts that apprenticeship-type programmes can be an efficient solution to some of the present labour market imbalances and benefit both learners and employers.
By combining study and work, apprenticeship and work-based learning (WBL) can offer them an opportunity to acquire work experience while enhancing skills in close alignment with employer requirements. Because of their inherent relevance for the labour market, apprenticeship and work-based learning can help to reduce skills mismatch and ease transition from education to work.
Promoting alternate learning and work has been one of the key policy tools of the European policy agenda for youth employment from the Bruges Communiqué (7 December 2010) through the Council recommendation on establishing a Youth guarantee (22 April 2013) to the Council Declaration on the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (15 October 2013). More...