Policy Brief

Youth guarantees: a response to the youth employment crisis?

Employment Policy Brief

Youth guarantees are gaining prominence in the fight against the current youth employment crisis.
The concept of youth guarantee implies an entitlement to a job, training or education of a defined group of young people seeking employment and an obligation for the Public Employment Service (PES) or another public authority to provide the services and/or implement the programmes within a given period of time. Several countries in Europe have positive experiences with guarantee schemes. ILO review shows that youth guarantees can play a significant role in reducing the scars of long-term unemployment and of disconnect from labour markets of the unemployed and discouraged young women and men. However, expanded efforts on data collection, monitoring of implementation are required for better design and implementation of cost-effective measures.