Youth employment and unemployment in the Netherlands

Vilnius, 11 November 2013Brigitte van der Burg

Outline

1. ‘The Dutch economy’ and employment situation

2. Policy framework– Education– Labour market and social security

3. Initiatives on youth unemployment

1. The Netherlands (key statistics)

Population:16.715 million

Density:404,5/km²

GDP:€ 537.192.383

GDP per capita:€ 32.139

The Netherlands at a glance: the economy

Food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining and electrical machinery

Youth unemployment is relatively low

Youth unemployment (under25 years), June 2013 (or latest available)Source: Eurostat

Youth unemployment in The Netherlands (January 2003 – September 2013)

Youth unemployment (ILO-definition)Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek

2. Policy frameworkHow the systems contribute to youth employment in The Netherlands.

1. EducationVocational Education and Training (VET) Early school leavers

2. Labour market policies and social securityLabour market and institutionsActivating social securityMinimum wages

The importance of an early labour market debut

“A key factor behind the successful labour market performance is the early labour market debut for many young people, facilitating later transition into full time position and permanent contracts” Source: OECD (2012), Economic Surveys The Netherlands

Apprenticeships as a vital element in the Dutch educational system

Vocational Education & Training (VET) in the Netherlands

Drop outs and early school leaving

• Labour market perspectives of qualified school-leavers are much better than those of unqualified school-leavers;

• Therefore, policies focus on reducing the number of early school-leavers;

• Objective: the number of new early school-leavers must be reduced to 25.000 in 2016.

Reduction of the number of early school-leavers

Achievement 2011:38.600(2,9%)

New dropouts: Target and achievement Source: Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences, Key figures 2007 - 2011

2. Policy frameworkHow the systems contribute to youth employment in The Netherlands.

1. EducationVocational Education and Training (VET) Early school leavers

2. Labour market policies and social securityLabour market and institutionsActivating social securityMinimum wages

Well functioning labour markets offer opportunities for all

‘The well performing labour market has delivered low unemployment and relatively stable wage developments.’Source: OECD (2012), Economic Surveys The Netherlands

• The dutch labour market performs well, also for young people:Relatively low youth unemployment and high youth employmentFlexible contracts as screening mechanism for employers and ‘stepping stone’

Activating social security

Social security = safety net with a strong focus on activation and personal responsibility.

Social security for young people (special regime < 27 years)If young people want to qualify for benefits:

» They have to search actively during 4 weeks for a job or education before they can apply

» Reintegration into the labor market is decentralized to municipalities. If young people apply for benefits, municipalities and unemployed young people make a proposal for reintegration

» Municipalities cooperate with among others the public employment service, educational institutions, employers and health care providers

Minimum wages affect employment probabilities

There seems to be a causal relation between the relatively low minimum wages and relative good labour market outcomes in The Netherlands (CPB, 2012).

Average minimum youth wage as a percentage of adult minimum wageSource: OECD (2008), Jobs for youth

Minimum (youth)wages in the Netherlands

Gross monthly minimum (youth) wages by age, 1 July 2013Source: Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment

3.Specific initiatives

A multidisciplinary approach

• Additional budget for labour market regions, for specific and dedicated activities

• Co-financing for sectoral plans by social partners (possibility of ESF)

• School-Ex programme to stimulate students in secondary VET to stay longer in education and choose labour market relevant school curricula