Youth Labour Research Articles

Information Frictions and Skill Signaling in the Youth Labor Market

This paper provides evidence that information frictions limit the labor market trajectories of US youth. We provide credible skill signals—recommendation letters based on supervisor feedback—to a random subset of 43,409 participants in New York’s summer jobs program. Letters increase employment the following year by 3 percentage points (4.5 percent). Earnings effects grow over four years to a cumulative $1,349 (4.9 percent). We find little evidence of increased job search or confidence; instead, signals may help employers better identify successful matches with high-productivity workers. Pulling youth into the labor market can, however, hamper on-time graduation, especially among low-achieving students. (JEL D82, H75, J13, J24, J31, J64)

Investigate the Causes of High Unemployment Rate in Youth Labour Market in China

Abstract: The objective of this research is to examine the consequences and issues of youth employment in China. This issue has been encountered by the public in recent years as the unemployment rate increases per year according to reputable resources in China. Nonetheless, there is a high tendency to get even higher in the next few years if no action is taken place by the government. Thus, it becomes important for public to understand the causes triggering this high unemployment rate among college students. In this essay, it seeks to examine the multiple issues of youth unemployment in China, and provides an understanding of the issues and challenges faced in the youth labour market through analyzing the data from resources such as the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and other authoritative websites. This essay will also advise some possible strategies that can be used to reduce the high unemployment rate in the country.

School-to-Work Transition in the Youth Labor Market in Central and Eastern Europe: A Cluster Analysis Approach

Abstract Background This study analyzes education, training, and the youth labor market in central and eastern Europe. Objectives This study aims to evaluate similarities and differences in youth labor markets among eleven central and eastern European countries from 2008 to 2021. It specifically examines three aspects: wage ratios, early departure from education or training, and the share of the population not in employment, education, or training. Methods/Approach This study applies hierarchical clustering and multidimensional scaling to panel data. The complete-link method organizes countries into clusters. This study combines three-dimensional Cartesian projections and two-dimensional projections based on multidimensional scaling with dendrograms and heatmaps, to graphically illustrate the "school-to-work" transition across this region. Results Clustering highlights the Visegrád countries, the Baltics, and the Balkans as zones with internally homogeneous yet externally heterogeneous challenges for the youth generation. As the outliers in each of these regions, Poland, Estonia, and Bulgaria support clustering solutions that deviate from conventional understandings of central and eastern Europe. Conclusions Historical and geographical ties continue to define this region’s youth labor markets across political and economic dimensions. Clustering analysis identifies triumphs and struggles in policymaking in some of the poorest and most politically challenging member-states of the European Union.

Literature review of comparative school-to-work research: how institutional settings shape individual labour market outcomes

Comparative school-to-work research has long emphasised the role of institutions in shaping youth labour market integration. This paper provides an overview of this research stream, consisting of four main sections. The first section introduces a variety of labour market outcomes of young graduates within Europe and identifies country clusters with higher and lower outcomes; this empirical evidence has so far remained limited in the multivariate oriented research stream. The second section links these labour market outcomes to the institutional settings of the education systems prevalent in the country clusters. By considering a wide country sample, it introduces a reliable country classification of transition regimes (along the OLM–ILM continuum), which has so far been partly inconclusive in research. The third section links labour market outcomes in turn to labour market institutions of the country clusters. This section emphasizes why labour market institutions drive only particular individual outcomes. Finally, the fourth section connects the previous three: it describes how certain institutional complementarities affect the youth labour market integration in the identified European country clusters. The review further identifies theoretical inconclusiveness or data-related desiderata, for which recommendations and solutions are proposed. The paper thus aims to assist both familiar and unfamiliar researchers to access the research stream by offering a comprehensive introduction and clear country classifications, linking research streams, and providing solutions to identified issues.

Precarious Youthspaces of Work and Diverse Economies in the EU South: A Conceptualization Attempt

Youth disengagement is widespread in the less developed regions of advanced capitalism, and precarity is constantly (re)produced in the youth labour markets there. In this context, ‘diverse economies’ such as the social economy (SE) and the digital platform-induced sharing economy (DPSE) have emerged as policy solutions to pressing social, economic and environmental challenges, particularly in the south of the EU. However, most relevant studies examine labour in these new economies without considering the socio-spatial and political factors at play. This article proposes a spatially sensitive conceptualization of the relationship between youth disengagement and employment in the SE and DPSE. Drawing on key concepts from critical geography and geographical political economy, as well as recent research on the spatiality of youth, the article suggests that contemporary ‘precarious youthspaces of work’ are created by—and embedded in—‘dismantled techno-spatial fixes’ and discusses the reciprocal relationship between such youthspaces and diverse economies.

Age-inclusive HR practices and older workers' voice behavior: the role of job crafting toward strengths and negative age-based metastereotypes

PurposeUsing signaling theory, the overarching purpose of this study is to provide an insight into how age-inclusive HR practices (AIHRP) influence older workers' voice behavior through job crafting toward strengths (JCS) and how negative age-based metastereotypes (NABM) moderate these relationships.Design/methodology/approachUsing time-lagged data were obtained from 321 Chinese older workers. PROCESS MACRO and Bootstrapping were used to test theoretical hypotheses.FindingsOur results revealed the positive effects of AIHRP on both JCS and voice behavior, and the positive effect of JCS on voice behavior, as well as the mediating role of JCS in the relationship between AIHRP and voice behavior. Besides, results also found that NABM negatively moderate the effect of AIHRP on voice behavior, and the effect of AIHRP on JCS. Additionally, significant moderated mediation effect indicates that the indirect effect of AIHRP on voice via JCS will be weaker for employees with higher NABM.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, we take the lead in linking AIHRP and employees' voice behavior. This complements voice literature by identifying an important new factor in motivating older workers' voice behavior. Second, by exploring the mediating role of JCS, we reveal the “black box” of how AIHRP affect older workers' voice behavior. Third, this study responds to the call for more studies exploring the boundary conditions of AIHRP and expands the theoretical research framework of the relationship between AIHRP, JCS and voice, deepens our understanding of the mechanism of voice behavior.Practical implicationsOur findings have several practical implications. First, the leadership personnel throughout the firm should be conscious of the crucial role of AIHRP. Second, managers should provide older workers with opportunities to craft their jobs to use their strengths and achieve a better person-job fit, which will result in a series of positive outcomes. Third, organizations should blur intergenerational boundaries within the organization and provide older workers with mentoring opportunities to motivate their voice.Social implicationsOur findings have some social implications. Firstly, the results of this study are beneficial in demonstrating to society that older workers still have significant strengths and value. With reasonable methods, older workers can continue to contribute to the development of organizations and society, which in turn is conducive to changing society's perceived bias toward older workers, reducing age discrimination and promoting social harmony. Secondly, this study provides theoretical guidance for organizations and society to manage older workers, which is conducive to alleviating social problems such as youth labor shortage and increased burden of retirement.Originality/valueThis study is innovative as it first explores the influence, mechanism and boundary conditions of AIHRP on older workers' voice behavior, which not only deepens our understanding of older workers voice, but also enriches the research on AIHRP and JCS.

Impact of COVID-19 on Labor Market Participation: A Case Study of Jammu City, India

Labor market participation has increased attention due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis has significantly affected various aspects of society, including labor market participation, resulting in widespread job losses, disruptions in education, shifts in industry demands, skill gaps, and increased unemployment, both on a global scale and within Jammu City. This paper aims to analyze the labor market participation of youth during the pandemic and its impact on education, employment, and socio-economic outcomes. The study uses both primary and secondary sources, such as labor force surveys, reports, and research papers, covering problems worldwide, India and the specific context of Jammu city. The study covers the pre- and post-pandemic labor market participation of survey respondents examining the types of job losses, vocational education and training (VET) courses, work-from-home opportunities, and the challenges faced by individuals in securing employment during the pandemic. The central focus of the study lies in exploring the labor market participation of the respondents. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected youth labor market participation in Jammu City, and impacted education, employment, and socio-economic outcomes? Major findings have been discussed in this paper, The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in widespread job losses, disruptions in education and significantly impacted youth labor market participation in Jammu City, VET courses emerged as crucial avenues for skill development and adapting to the changing labor market demands during the pandemic. Work-from-home opportunities became prevalent, but access to such opportunities varied among different demographic groups, aggravating existing inequalities. Challenges in securing employment during the pandemic included limited job opportunities, skill gaps, and barriers to accessing education and training. Policy recommendations for addressing the impact of the pandemic on youth labor market participation and socio-economic conditions in Jammu City include enhancing skill development programs, promoting inclusive job creation initiatives, and ensuring equitable access to education and training opportunities. These measures aim to mitigate difficulties in labor market participation and socio-economic challenges, emphasizing the importance of skill enhancement, inclusive job creation, and accessible education and training within the city.

What Works for Whom? Youth Labour Market Policy in Poland

What Works for Whom? Youth Labour Market Policy in Poland

India’s Missing Female Youth Labour Force: Size, Characteristics and Policy Concern

India’s Missing Female Youth Labour Force: Size, Characteristics and Policy Concern

Education, crowding‐out, and Black‐White employment in youth labor markets: Evidence from No Pass, No Drive policies

AbstractWe study how education affects Black and White youth employment in the context of No Pass, No Drive (NPND) policies, which require that teens attend school to hold drivers' licenses. Using difference‐in‐differences estimation, we find that NPND policies increase Black teen employment by 6.7 p.p. without affecting labor force participation (LFP), while reducing White teen employment and LFP by 8.3 p.p. and 5.9 p.p., respectively. We find similar, but smaller effects for Black and White adults ages 18–25. By increasing school enrollment, NPND policies cause White youths to exit the labor force, increasing labor market tightness and improving job finding for Black youths.

Separate issues of employment and professional development of young scientists in Ukraine

The article is devoted to the theoretical and legal study of the right to work, its enshrining in the legislation of Ukraine and in international legal documents, ensuring the employment of young people by the state, the peculiarities of the employment of young scientists, as a category of subjects of labor relations with a special legal status. The state of employment of this category of workers has been analyzed and the main problems faced by young people when finding work have been identified, in particular: a) imperfection of the regulatory and legal framework that regulates labor relations with scientists; b) the possibility of forecasting supply and demand in the labor market; c) lack of professional experience among young people; d) state of development of research infrastructures; e) low level of salaries of scientific employees. The theoretical and practical problems in the field of professional development of young workers aimed at forming high professionalism in them, the ability to work in new economic conditions, as well as ensuring high productive work and effective employment on this basis are analyzed. The author concluded that the current state of the youth labor market is the most problematic part of the general labor market, since the level of youth unemployment in Ukraine has only been increasing in recent years, which contributes to the outflow of young specialists abroad, where they see better earnings, professional growth or opportunities in general.

Tackling Youth Unemployment in GCC Region: Reaching Beyond National Barriers

This study delves into the multifaceted issue of youth unemployment in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where it is nearly twice as high as the average unemployment rate in the region. Given that, a significant proportion of the population in these countries comprises of youth; this problem poses a significant obstacle to the development of a knowledge-based economy. Furthermore, the lack of youth participation in the labor market has become a pressing issue, thwarting national and United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDG) related to decent work which strives to ensure workers are getting fair treatment and pay. The study reveals that youth in the GCC are underutilized, with they being five times more likely to be unemployed compared to adults. The problem is particularly acute among females. This paper outlines the limitations of nationalization policies aimed at increasing youth labor participation and provides policy recommendations that take into account the diverse perspectives of different stakeholders and the varying situations in different countries.

РОЛЬ СОЦІАЛЬНОЇ ПОЛІТИКИ НА МОЛОДІЖНОМУ РИНКУ ПРАЦІ В АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНІ

The purpose of the article is to study the impact of social policy on the youth labor market in Azerbaijan, paying special attention to identifying effective strategies and measures that can increase the integration of young people into the labor force. The study aims to analyze the challenges young people face in finding employment, and how various government initiatives, educational reforms and legislative measures can help create a more inclusive and vibrant labor market for young people. During the study, the following methods were chosen as the main research methods: historicity, scientific validity, objective and critical attitude to historical processes, their comparative analysis Novelty: for the first time, an objective attitude towards employment-oriented processes of youth socialization has been identified, the definition of effective strategies for increasing youth employment and their integration into the labor market, contributing to the socio-economic development of Azerbaijan. The study highlights government efforts to improve youth employability through educational reforms, job training, employment incentives and support programs. These initiatives aim to provide young Azerbaijanis with the necessary skills, knowledge and opportunities to succeed in a competitive and globalized job market. The study highlights the various efforts undertaken by the Azerbaijani government through education reforms, vocational training, employment promotion and legislative measures to integrate youth into a dynamic and developing labor market. These initiatives are comprehensive and target both demand and labor market aspects to equip young people with the necessary skills, opportunities and protection. It is noted that the role of social policy in the youth labor market is not only to solve pressing employment problems, but also to invest in the future of the country. Developing a well-integrated, skilled and motivated young workforce is essential to Azerbaijan's pursuit of economic diversification and sustainable development. This requires a joint effort between government, the private sector, educational institutions and civil society.

Territorial Configurations of School‐To‐Work Outcomes in Europe

<p>Comparative research on school-to-work transitions mainly focused on country differences, examining the variation in institutional design and its impact on shaping youth labour market outcomes. The field has been dominated by a sort of methodological nationalism assuming nation states as homogeneous objects of comparison, while the territorial variations in youth transitions among sub-national territories have been less explored, notwithstanding their potential impact on life chances. In this article, we look at the outcomes of transitions in EU regions, comparing regional configurations of school-to-work transitions and their change over time. Is it possible to identify differences among groups of regions? To what extent do these patterns change over time? In order to answer these questions, we construct and analyse a longitudinal and systematic set of indicators that combine regional aggregated outcomes of transitions from education to work and regional contextual traits at the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics level 2 for the period 2007–2019. We perform two cluster analyses to describe regional differences and trends over time. The findings provide novel insights into the characteristics and patterns of an unequal geography of youth opportunities in Europe.</p>

The Ageing Crisis Threatening Farming in Ethiopia: An Analysis of Youth Involvement in Agriculture

This study examined youth labor force participation in agriculture and factors impeding effective participation in Ethiopia using the 2011-2018 data from the Living Standards Measurement Survey-Integrated Survey of Agriculture (LSMS-ISA). The analytical tools included both descriptive statistics and econometric analysis. Summary statistics show that the average age of the respondents was 47 years, thus they are not at an economically active age. This is an upward trend of 52 years in 2018 compared to 44 years in 2011. The ordinary least square (OLS) regression result indicated that for every 1 unit increase in the independent variable (time), there will be a 1.01 increase in the dependent variable (farm age). The result showed that the increase in time affected age of the farming positively and significantly. The evidence suggested farming population in Ethiopia is growing older and reduced involvement of youth (14.4%). The results also revealed low participation of youth in agriculture activities which increases youth unemployment. In turn, the total dependency ratio in the population equals 102.7. This high dependency ratio means that the ‘dependents’ in society are more reliant on a smaller number of working-aged people, which suggests that for every 1027 dependents, there are roughly 1000 working-age people providing them food through farming. The review result showed youth participation in Ethiopian agriculture is influenced by limited access to land, low attitude on agriculture (attitudinal problems), inadequate access to financial services, problems of rural life, and backwardness of agricultural tools. The study suggests that efforts to shape future work in Ethiopian agriculture should include among other things, access to land and provision of credit facilities. The study pointed out that the efforts to shape the future of agricultural work in Ethiopia should ensure the availability of land and credit.

Youth labor market opportunities and challenges in Albania: successful transition from education to employment

Youth labor market opportunities and challenges in Albania: successful transition from education to employment

Education and Opportunity in Spain and the United States: Evidence from Youth Labor Market Entry

Education and Opportunity in Spain and the United States: Evidence from Youth Labor Market Entry

Education and opportunity in Spain and the USA: evidence from youth labour market entry

Education and opportunity in Spain and the USA: evidence from youth labour market entry

Reactiveness and inclusiveness as the characteristics of regional labour markets regarding the situation of young people

Having observed the growing number of transnational shocks affecting the national and regional economies, it is worth assessing the condition of regional labour markets, primarily in the con -text of the situation of young people, who for many years have been one of the most vulnerable groups in the labour market. The problem of non-inclusiveness of the labour markets regarding young workers affects both markets presenting high unemployment rates and highly responsive to economic shocks, and also those featuring low youth unemployment rates and stable economic conditions. The article defines models of regional labour markets with regard to the situation of young people in terms of their reactivity of youth labour markets to economic shocks, and their inclusiveness compared to adults.

Analysis of the Influence of Demography and Education on Youth Unemployment in Indonesia

This study analyses the influence of demography and education on youth unemployment in Indonesia. The demographic conditions are examined based on the youth population, adult unemployment, and sex ratio. Education is measured by the percentage of the labour force that has completed at least high school education. The model used is panel data regression analysis, employing time series data from 2013-2022 and cross-section data from 34 provinces in Indonesia. The study found that demographic conditions significantly influence youth unemployment levels in Indonesia. The increase in the number of young people needs to be managed so that their entry into the labour force is more manageable, by increasing the promotion of education and expanding skills training for young people. Adult unemployment is a competitor to the youth labour force, reducing the opportunity for young people to find employment, and the results of this study highlight that the distribution of women entering the labour force is smaller, so an increase in the number of men entering the labour force has a positive effect on the increase in youth unemployment. Meanwhile, increasing the proportion of the labour force with at least a high school education can reduce youth unemployment in Indonesia.