Apprenticeships – one way to combat youth unemployment

1. Apprenticeships – oneway to combatyouthunemployment Karen Roiy, Senior Advisor, Confederation of Danish employers

2. Youth unemployment Unemployment rates (percentage), 2012 (Q2) Data: Eurostat LFS 2012

3. Vocational education and training • One explanation for the low youth unemployment in Denmark is found in VET • Nearly all VET-graduates are in employment after a year, which also applies to young, male immigrants • 2/3 of the training takes place at a company • VET-graduates attain solid work experience and can contribute to the production from day one

4. Companies look for graduates with work experience • Vital that young people gain experience in the labour market during their studies • Combining theoretical and practical training benefits both business and graduates • Linking education and employment generates positive synergies between the areas – and secures a smooth transition into employment

5. Companiesdemand • A precondition for companies’ supply of apprenticeships is thatpupils possess the necessary academic skills • This is the exclusive responsibility of governments and a precondition for companies’ supply of apprenticeships • We need highly qualified VET’s in the future – VET is not a social agenda

6. The apprentice must beensured • A significant part of the education is to be conducted in a company • The agreement between young people and companies is to be quality assured through a contract • The quality of the apprentices stay should clearly define the learning objectives of the work based part of the education • Industrial relations should always respected

7. Social partners’ contribution • The apprenticesareemployed and covered by the collective agreement • Theywillnormallybeunionized • The social partners develop the courses to ensure a close link to the demands of the labourmarket • The social partners represented in the boards of the schools