Against a background of increasing youth labour market insecurities during the recent economic crisis, this interdisciplinary and internationally comparative project aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the consequences of youth labour market vulnerability for risks of social exclusion in Europe.

The research team will adopt a dynamic perspective on objective and subjective dimensions of social exclusion to identify the complex interrelationships and potential risks of cumulative disadvantages, while examining possible mechanisms to address them. The project will examine the implications of labour market insecurities for young people in the following areas:

• risk of poverty
• material deprivation
• subjective well-being
• health status
• ability to gain independence from the parental home.

Mixed methods will be used throughout the project. Qualitative interviews with youths from nine selected European countries including Ukraine will help to understand how disadvantaged youths perceive their social situation and try to cope in different economic, institutional and cultural environments. The quantitative element will use EU-28 and national micro-data to identify causal interrelationships and dynamic processes of youth social exclusion in different national contexts.

A central objective is to assess the reach and effectiveness of EU and national policies in addressing issues around youth social exclusion, drawing on best practice examples to suggest reforms and policies designed to improve this group’s social situation. Different stakeholder groups will be involved at all stages to enable young people to be given a voice. This will also assist in the dissemination of project findings.

Start date: 01/05/2015 End date: 30/04/2018

Funder: European Union Horizon 2020

Funding: €243,562

Publications: Except Working Papers

Except Website

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