Your first EURES job

Brief: 

Your first EURES job is a flagship initiative of Europe 2020, a 10-year strategy proposed by the European Commission in March 2010 for reviving the EU’s economy. EURES improves young people’s chances of finding a job by helping students and trainees gain work and life experience abroad. EURES also offers services to improve the quality and attractiveness of education and training in Europe.

The problem addressed by the campaign: 
  • Four million young people under the age of 25 were unemployed in the EU in 2009. This number increased to 5 million in 2010.
  • The EU’s 20.4% youth unemployment rate is more than double the rate for the working population as a whole.
  • Europe needs more young people who are highly skilled, knowledgeable and innovative to keep its economy competitive and reach the goals set by the Europe 2020 reform strategy.
Solution: 

Through EURES, EU countries work closely together to coordinate policy-making and create specific programmes designed to stimulate and mobilize young people. For example:

  • Job-abroad scheme for labour market mobility within the EU
  • European microfinance facility to increase support for young entrepreneurs
  • A website, Youth on the Move, to provide information and practical links for young people looking to study, train or work abroad
Impact: 

Your first EURES job aims to improve young people’s education and employability, to reduce high youth unemployment and to increase the youth-employment rate – in line with the wider EU target of achieving a 75% employment rate for the working-age population (20 to 64 years).

Why has it worked?: 
  • Continuous monitoring of the objectives proposed by the initiative
  • Measurement of the progress of implementation using clear indicators
Conclusions and Recommendations: 
  • Make education and training more relevant to young people’s needs.
  • Encourage young people to take advantage of grants to study or train in another country.
  • Encourage relevant authorities to take measures simplifying the transition from education to work.
Foundational Issues: 
Information gaps
Level of Collaboration: 
Level 4: Collaboration on a global or multistakeholder level
Region: 
Europe
Economic and political context: 

European Union:

  • Population: 490 million
  • Unemployment rate: 9.6%
  • GDP: US$ 16,228 billion in 2010
About the Author(s): 
  • Department of Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion, EU Commission
  • EURES supports the Europe 2020 Strategy objective that by 2020, Europe will become a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy.
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