Youth Unemployment, Education and Job Training: An Analysis of PLFS Data in India

This paper highlights the changes in the unemployment rate across different age cohorts among young people in India due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study observes that the youth unemployment rate increased at a much higher rate in urban areas both for male and female youth during the initial phase of pandemic. To understand the severity of the effects of pandemic on unemployment across different age groups among the youth, this study enquires into the nature and causes of unemployment among them. The probit estimates of unemployment function for the youth reveals that the likelihood of youth being unemployed is less in upper age cohorts within the young age range. An inverse relationship is observed between general education and employment among the youth in the Indian youth labour market. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.

A tripartite understanding of experiences of young apprentices: A case study of the London Borough of Hounslow.

In 2019, a decline in apprenticeship starts prompted the London Borough of Hounslow to make an apprenticeship pledge in its Corporate Plan 2019-2024, committing to create 4,000 new apprenticeships and training opportunities to help young people into work. This article investigates experiences of young apprentices in Hounslow before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exploring the perspectives of two apprentices, two employers and one training provider in a small-scale qualitative study, the authors identify key hindering and supporting factors affecting entry into and sustainability of apprenticeships, and progression towards professional employment. They found that labour market entry was intensely hindered by competition (with peers who had better maths and English qualifications, for a small number of apprenticeships) and organisational barriers (such as managers with prejudices against young people, stigmatising apprentices and apprenticeships). Supportive factors identified include personal characteristics (such as a positive mindset, enabling young people to persevere despite a disadvantaged socioeconomic background and lack of family support, for example) and supportive relationships (e.g. mentoring) between apprentices and their training providers or employers.

Compréhension tripartite des expériences de jeunes apprentis : étude de cas réalisée dans le quartier londonien de Hounslow ­ En 2019, un déclin du nombre de nouveaux contrats d'apprentissage a poussé le quartier londonien de Hounslow à prendre un engagement en faveur de l'apprentissage dans son plan 2019­2024 pour les entreprises, dans lequel il s'engageait à créer 4 000 places d'apprentissage et possibilités de formation pour aider les jeunes à entrer dans la vie active. Cet article se penche sur les expériences de jeunes apprentis à Hounslow avant et pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Les auteurs ont examiné les points de vue de deux apprentis, de deux employeurs et d'un prestataire de formations dans une étude qualitative à petite échelle et ont identifié des facteurs décisifs freinant ou favorisant l'accession aux apprentissages, la viabilité de ces derniers et le parcours des apprentis vers l'emploi. Ils ont constaté que l'entrée sur le marché du travail était fortement freinée par la concurrence (avec des pairs mieux qualifiés en mathématiques et en anglais qui postulaient pour un nombre restreints de place d'apprentissage) et par des obstacles organisationnels (par exemple des managers qui avaient des préjugés à l'égard des jeunes, qui stigmatisaient les apprentis et les apprentissages). Parmi les facteurs favorables qu'ils ont identifiés, notons les traits de caractère personnels (par exemple un état d'esprit positif permettant aux jeunes de persévérer malgré leur milieu socio-économique défavorisé et l'absence de soutien de leur famille) et les relations de soutien (par exemple le mentorat) entre les apprentis et leurs prestataires de formation ou leurs employeurs.

Impact of the COVID-19 crisis on India's rural youth: Evidence from a panel survey and an experiment

This paper presents evidence on the short and long-term impact of the COVID-19 crisis on India's rural youth. We interviewed about 2,000 vocational trainees from Bihar and Jharkhand three times after the first national lockdown in 2020, between June 2020 and December 2021. We find that a third of respondents who were in salaried jobs pre-lockdown lost their jobs, and half of those who worked out of state returned home shortly after the lockdown. We report a stark difference between men and women: while many male workers took up informal employment, most female workers dropped out of the labour force. In the second part of the paper, we use a randomised experiment to document the effects of a government-supported digital platform designed to provide jobs to low-skilled workers. The platform turned out to be difficult to use and publicised only few job ads. We find no effect on job search intensity or employment. Our findings suggest that bridging the gap between rural young workers and urban formal labour markets requires more active and targeted policy interventions, especially for female workers. © 2023 The Authors

Determinants of school to work transition and COVID-19

Purpose: This is Part 1 of the two special issues on the topic, "School to work transition around the world – the effect of the pandemic recession.” The first part focuses on the determinants of the school-to-work transition (STWT) and the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the young worker and their response to uncertain labor market conditions. The second issue will explore the country-specific experiences around the globe in tackling the problem of a smooth STWT. The purpose of this introductory article is to elaborate on the transition of young workers in the labor market. Discussion on the status of various indicators of the youth labor market (unemployment, underemployment and not in employment, education and training [NEET]) is also integrated. The determining factors of school-to-work transition (STWT) and the role of technical and vocational institutions and universities are analyzed. Moreover, the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market is also evaluated. After the pandemic, there was a dreadful change in the job market;this study dives into those diverse factors and carves out the multiple impacts on youth unemployment. Design/methodology/approach: The study analyses relevant literature on STWT, NEET and COVID-19 implications for the labor market, based on the other papers in this special issue. Using the review method, the authors identified similar research articles and reports which helped in strengthening the study's argument. The primary focus of the study was on the smooth transition of young workers in the labor market and the impact of the pandemic on youth unemployment. Hence, literature supported the authors in giving the justifications from various economies and societies. Findings: The paper finds that youth worldwide have suffered from the repercussions of COVID-19, especially in their early career (STWT). Skill mismatch, underemployment, job losses, salary cut downs, health issues, vocational education importance, vulnerable employment, etc. were some of the significant impacts the authors identified by analyzing the various reports and papers. Furthermore, this paper also discusses the role of active labor market policies and hiring incentives for promoting youth employment. Social implications: The paper finds that the times ahead are challenging ones. There is a dearth of productive job opportunities due to slow economic growth. The unemployment rate among youth and adults is high, and labor markets have become more competitive. The young generation is now left with no choice but to upgrade and improve their skill set or some other expertise. On the one hand, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and universities need to enhance their marketable knowledge and skills, and on the other hand, there is a need for active labor market policies to encourage their participation in the labor markets. Originality/value: This paper strongly contributes to highlighting the professional and societal hit backs faced due to the aftermath of COVID-19. The study summarizes the specific details of STWT and employment issues faced by youth in various parts of the world. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Gameful design for skills development of youths in marginalised urban communities

Unemployment is high among youths living in marginalised communities in South Africa. One of the reasons is that many young people are either un or low-skilled to gain employment in a digital economy requiring high-skilled individuals. The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) also exacerbates the future of work for these youths if they remain unskilled. Training with digital technologies is becoming the norm (especially with COVID–19) but engaging and motivating youth to learn skills is challenging. Gameful design, when effectively used, can create engagement and motivation. This study investigated what gameful elements can engage and motivate youths in marginalised communities to learn employable skills and how these elements can be incorporated into a system. We conducted a series of co-participatory workshops, including self-reflection tasks with some youths from a marginalised urban community in the Western Cape, South Africa. The study finds twenty-three system-based gameful design elements and three nonsystem-based elements to engage and motivate youths. The results provide insights for gameful designers, development centres, and policymakers involved with youth skills development. © 2022,Interaction Design and Architecture(s). All Rights Reserved.

Determinants of Youth Unemployment in See Countries

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the economic crisis that national economies are facing, caused a significant distortion in the labor market. The unemployment rate in 2021 in the countries of Southeastern Europe is the highest in North Macedonia 16%, while the lowest unemployment is observed in Slovenia 4%. Differences in the balance of the labor market are evident within these countries. The EU member countries (Slovenia, Romania, Croatia and Bulgaria) have a significantly lower level of unemployment compared to the rest of the Southeastern European countries (SEE) that are not part of the EU. Young workers represent the most vulnerable segment of the labor market, especially in SEE countries. Within SEE countries, young workers from Western Balkan countries are still in an unfavorable position compared to the rest of the countries in the region. The countries from the Western Balkans record the highest level of youth unemployment compared to the EU average and SEE countries. Hence, a basic macroeconomic analysis of the determinants of youth unemployment in SEE countries is required. The results shows that growth of GDP, and the growth of Labor productivity has statistically significant influence on youth unemployment rate. The increase in GDP is directly related to the unemployment rate, and thus also youth unemployment.

Determinants of school to work transition and COVID-19

Purpose>This is Part 1 of the two special issues on the topic, "School to work transition around the world – the effect of the pandemic recession.” The first part focuses on the determinants of the school-to-work transition (STWT) and the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the young worker and their response to uncertain labor market conditions. The second issue will explore the country-specific experiences around the globe in tackling the problem of a smooth STWT. The purpose of this introductory article is to elaborate on the transition of young workers in the labor market. Discussion on the status of various indicators of the youth labor market (unemployment, underemployment and not in employment, education and training [NEET]) is also integrated. The determining factors of school-to-work transition (STWT) and the role of technical and vocational institutions and universities are analyzed. Moreover, the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market is also evaluated. After the pandemic, there was a dreadful change in the job market;this study dives into those diverse factors and carves out the multiple impacts on youth unemployment.Design/methodology/approach>The study analyses relevant literature on STWT, NEET and COVID-19 implications for the labor market, based on the other papers in this special issue. Using the review method, the authors identified similar research articles and reports which helped in strengthening the study's argument. The primary focus of the study was on the smooth transition of young workers in the labor market and the impact of the pandemic on youth unemployment. Hence, literature supported the authors in giving the justifications from various economies and societies.Findings>The paper finds that youth worldwide have suffered from the repercussions of COVID-19, especially in their early career (STWT). Skill mismatch, underemployment, job losses, salary cut downs, health issues, vocational education importance, vulnerable employment, etc. were some of the significant impacts the authors identified by analyzing the various reports and papers. Furthermore, this paper also discusses the role of active labor market policies and hiring incentives for promoting youth employment.Social implications>The paper finds that the times ahead are challenging ones. There is a dearth of productive job opportunities due to slow economic growth. The unemployment rate among youth and adults is high, and labor markets have become more competitive. The young generation is now left with no choice but to upgrade and improve their skill set or some other expertise. On the one hand, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and universities need to enhance their marketable knowledge and skills, and on the other hand, there is a need for active labor market policies to encourage their participation in the labor markets.Originality/value>This paper strongly contributes to highlighting the professional and societal hit backs faced due to the aftermath of COVID-19. The study summarizes the specific details of STWT and employment issues faced by youth in various parts of the world.

Forecasting National and Regional Youth Unemployment in Spain Using Google Trends.

In Spain, the youth unemployment rate is one of the highest in the European Union. With the pandemic caused by Covid-19, young people face high unemployment rates and are more vulnerable to a decrease in labour demand. This paper analyses and predicts youth unemployment using Google Trends indices in Spain for the period between the first quarter of 2004 and the second quarter of 2021, being the first work to carry out this study for Spain and the first to use the regional approach for the country. Vector autoregressive Bayesian models and vector error correction models have been used for national data, and Bayesian panel data models and fixed effects model for regional data. The results confirm that forecasts based on Google Trends data are more accurate in predicting the youth unemployment rate.

Young Australians' labour market engagement and job aspiration in the wake of the COVID ‐19 pandemic

Young people tend to bear the brunt of adverse employment consequences of a crisis due mainly to the precarious nature of their job and their over-representation among jobseekers who are having to find employment when jobs are scarce. Using quarterly welfare payment data for the period 2019-2021 from the Department of Social Services, we noted a marked increase in the percentage of 16- to 21-year-olds who received youth allowance (other) payments. While a greater proportion of Indigenous youth than non-Indigenous youth received the payments from 2019 to 2021, the gap widened following the outbreak of the pandemic. Further, applying regression analysis to data from the 2019 and 2020 waves of the 2015 Cohort of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Youth (LSAY), we find no statistically significant change in individual-level labour force status between 2019 and 2020. However, pandemic-induced labour market crises appear to have been associated with reduced work hours, heightened career concerns and sustained nonemployment, where potential impacts are larger among traditionally vulnerable youth groups such as female, Indigenous and overseas-born young persons. The study highlights the need for recognising the intersectionality of youth and other forms of identity (such as gender, Indigenous status and nativity) while designing labour market policies.

Effectiveness of Active Labour Market Policies in the EU Countries for the Young Unemployed People and Implications for the Post-pandemic Period

The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerability of young people in the labour market. Young people are faced with risks and an uncertain future, as well as changing the nature of labour markets. Active labour market policies are addressed as the main instrument to improve employment possibilities of young people in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic situation and its aftermath. This paper analyses the effectiveness of active labour market policies in reducing youth unemployment for the EU-26 Member States using aggregate data. Based on dynamic generalised methods of moments-GMM panel data approach, we find that active labour market policies do not support reduction of youth unemployment. Moreover, unfavourable prospects in the formal sector push young people into the informal sector. Considering the multiple shocks with which young people are being faced with, and the long-term pandemic impact, it suggests the scarring effect for young people. The analysis of the effectiveness of active labour market policy in reducing youth unemployment is of particular policy relevance, as the negative effects of the pandemic COVID-19 crisis are imminent, and the labour market situation is expected to worsen due to the fall in economic activity. Different measures of success would bring societal benefits not only from the public health perspective, but also from the perspective of well-being of young people. Moreover, OECD & European Commission (2022), in their joint policy brief, argue that investing in the growth sectors such as the circular economy, digital economy and the green economy would have the potential to employ young job seekers. © 2022, Kauno Technologijos Universitetas. All rights reserved.

SOCIO-TECHNICAL FRAMEWORK FOR YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT CASE OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL GRADUATES

Youth unemployment from vocational school graduates is still a problem that attracts the attention of vocational education sector. Especially in the current conditions, the distribution of information technology and the Covid-19 pandemic is a new challenge. A systemic approach is needed to overcome this issue. There are two approaches to be implemented, namely social and technical approaches. The objective of this research is to obtain the cause of unemployment in vocational school graduates. Furthermore, an overview of solutions can be obtained in preparing the workforce for vocational school graduates based on society's latest technological and social developments. This study produces a composite indicator to find the causes of youth unemployment from vocational school graduates through a socio-technical analysis approach. In addition, it presents the scale and characteristics for every indicator that is used in this research. Using these frameworks and indicators, further research can be conducted by developing a model for preparing the vocational school graduate workforce to fit in the latest technological and social developments.

WHO IS MOST VULNERABLE? EXPLORING JOB VULNERABILITY, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND DEMAND DURING COVID-19

COVID-19 has resulted in global lockdowns, social distancing and demand fluctuations. Existing crisis management research often provides a retrospective account of strategy making after a crisis. Limited studies have explored the factors which aid policy responses during an ongoing crisis. This research helps fill this gap by exploring the influence Covid-19 had on job vulnerability during the first wave of the COVID-19 crisis (spring and summer of 2020). We explore Northern Ireland (NI) which historically has experienced disadvantages. We utilise point-in-time modelling which considers contextual variations. The findings reveal that a reduction in social distancing reduces the vulnerability of over 30,000 jobs, however, ongoing uncertainties regarding demand will have a more significant longer-term impact on job vulnerabilities. We identify how COVID-19 may impact sectors, groups and geographies differently. We provide policy recommendations on how to alleviate the impact COVID-19 has for job vulnerability across the NI economy.

GENERATION COVID-19: ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL?

The outbreak of a global pandemic related to Sars-Cov-2 also known as Coronavirus or COVID-19 since late 2019 and early 2020 has caused significant turnover in the everyday health, political, economic and social situation and behaviour of individuals as well as society. Despite the adoption of immediate measures from states and 21st Century medicine the pandemic shows the vulnerability of individuals and particular groups of society. That said, the consequences will be broad;not only those who suffer from direct disease consequences but we anticipate the associated difficulties following the post-pandemic development and impacts. In this paper we focus specifically on the political and social consequences of a pandemic towards youth policy, youth unemployment and education limits in promoting youth well-being.

Young people are medically invulnerable to COVID-19 but vulnerable in the labor market: Korean evidence.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 and its preventive measures affect not only the state of public health but also the economy. The economic impact of COVID-19 varies depending on age, and it is argued that young people have experienced the greatest negative impacts. METHODS: This study was an analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in January 2020 on the Korean labor market. Large-scale data from the Economically Active Population Survey from January to June of 2018 to 2020 were used when analyzing the impacts of COVID-19 on unemployment and the economically inactive population by age group. Through this study's empirical analysis, we examined for this study whether the COVID-19 outbreak has affected the labor market differently based on age. By analyzing the interaction terms of the young person's status and the time of the COVID-19 outbreak, we determined the impacts of the outbreak on economic inactivity among young people, as well as examining the reasons for these differential effects. RESULTS: Compared with the middle-aged or older group, young people were more likely to become economically inactive than unemployed. Our empirical results using multinomial logistic regression revealed several reasons for the increase in economic inactivity, such as discouragement during the job search, childcare, housework, and studying at an institution, along with other determinants of economic inactivity. Young people showed a significantly higher relative probability of becoming economically inactive or discouraged job seekers following the COVID-19 outbreak when compared to other age groups. In addition, through the analysis of the possibility of employment, the young people responded negatively to the possibility of employment in the future compared to the middle-aged after COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Young people in South Korea possess little career experience in the labor market and tend to be seeking work rather than working. Because economic activities are likely to shrink structurally during a pandemic, it is necessary to empirically determine the damage incurred by people who are vulnerable in the labor markets, such as the younger population which was the subject of this study. Accordingly, future policy directions are suggested for the prevention of a rapid increase in the rate of economic inactivity among the younger population during the pandemic.

THE RISE IN YOUTH EMPLOYMENT? IMPACT EVALUATION OF COVID-19 CONSEQUENCES

The COVID-19 pandemic has significant consequences in many areas and has largely contributed to rising unemployment in almost all countries. The situation is similar in Slovavkia, where various degrees of shutdown measures have caused an inflow of newly unemployed people in all age groups. This article focuses on unemployed youth as a vulnerable and disadvantaged group of the working population, as starting a career during a pandemic is complicated or even impossible in some industries under these conditions. In this study, the real situation in Slovakia in 2020-2021 is compared with the development of the job market before the pandemic and its counterfactual prediction under the hypothetical situation of no pandemic. The main contribution of the study is the quantification of the extent of the pandemic impact on unemployed youth, but also on other age groups;this evaluation can be considered very accurate given the counterfactual approach used. The analysis uses a counterfactual before-after comparison together with a statistical model for predicting the development of the inflow of the number of newly unemployed, which provides an accurate quantification of the amount of the pandemic's impact on unemployment. The results of this study can be used in practice to identify the most affected groups of the population and to implement policy measures aimed at mitigating the effects of the pandemic, and then to adjust the intensity and amount of allocated funds that will be needed to be spent to support the placement of young people into the labor market.

Continuing the precedent: Financially disadvantaging young people in "unprecedented" COVID-19 times.

The COVID-19 pandemic is both a health and an economic crisis. Economically, lockdowns across Australia have devastated business and industry, creating immediate spikes in under- and unemployment. These impacts intersect with the precarious labour market of casualised and "gig" economy work, where young workers constitute an established and substantial group. While negatively impacting upon many young people's lives, in recent decades precarious employment has also been normalised for young people as they are encouraged to understand themselves as self-reliant and entrepreneurial in their working lives. Yet, these workers have been largely abandoned in the government's economic response to COVID-19. The economic impact and government response to the pandemic substantially disadvantage young people. This article analyses the impact of new government initiatives: the "JobKeeper" wage subsidy scheme, "JobSeeker" payments and early access to superannuation, "JobMaker" economic recovery plan and the redesign of university fees. These initiatives compound preexisting youth policy of low welfare levels, youth wages and high university fees to economically burden young people. Contrasting the repeated expression of anything pandemic related as "unprecedented", we argue that the economic abandonment of young people in the immediate COVID-19 crisis continues a decades-long precedent in Australia of economically disadvantaging young people.

Unemployment in the time of COVID-19: A research agenda.

This essay represents the collective vision of a group of scholars in vocational psychology who have sought to develop a research agenda in response to the massive global unemployment crisis that has been evoked by the COVID-19 pandemic. The research agenda includes exploring how this unemployment crisis may differ from previous unemployment periods; examining the nature of the grief evoked by the parallel loss of work and loss of life; recognizing and addressing the privilege of scholars; examining the inequality that underlies the disproportionate impact of the crisis on poor and working class communities; developing a framework for evidence-based interventions for unemployed individuals; and examining the work-family interface and unemployment among youth.