by Radka Pudilova, Masters Student, Budapest
Youth unemployment is a continuous challenge which needs to be tackled both by governments but also by the pro-active approach of the people who are most endangered by it. The Agros Youth Group from Cyprus which facilitated an interactive workshop as part of the European Youth Event identified four key areas in which young people can involve and thus increase their likelihood of employability: European opportunities, volunteering, research and planning and lifelong learning.
While it is certainly true that all of these could be ingredients for success, what we need to bear in mind is that they often contribute to social stratification, which further ostracizes vulnerable marginalized group. For instance, even though volunteering brings upon personal development and allows for networking, many young people simply cannot afford to make such an investment in terms of time and resources. The same goes for Erasmus+ opportunities, where the grant given often does not cover all the costs associated with one’s study abroad and as such students still do depend on their family’s resources. Given these realities on ground, it is no wonder that already marginalized groups face further disadvantages as their better-off peers boost up their CV with assets such as studying abroad and volunteering in local house for elderly.
A spark of hope can be found in the digital sphere, where Massive Open Online Course as well as specialized platforms for youth try to overcome people’s barriers to education and job market. The YouRock platform seems to be a perfect fit for young people who feel discouraged by sites like LinkedIn where others (competitors in job market) have years of experience and prestigious degrees. YouRock makes people realize that they actually possess valuable skills – like problem-solving or critical thinking, regardless of their level of education or years of professional experience. Similarly, platforms like Coursera and EdX allow everyone with the connection to the Internet access the most up-to-date knowledge from top institutions all over the world.
Nowadays it is vital to think further about how to ensure that the programs and opportunities offered in the European Union are as inclusive as possible. Otherwise the only possibility for young people to get employed is simply luck and good (family) connections.
