Youth jobless rate one of worst in EU

Ireland’s youth unemployment rate is one of the worst in Europe.

A major new EU study shows that, despite a series of highly publicised Irish job deals, the generation, it is hoped, will lift us out of the economic crisis, is being left on the sidelines.

The 171-page European Monitoring Centre on Change document said one in three Irish 15-24 year olds were out of education or training and one in five 15 to 29 year olds were on the dole in Dec 2011. The rates are almost 40% higher than the EU average.

The report also highlights how EU youth unemployment rates are three times worse than older groups. Currently, just 33.6% of EU 15 to 29 year olds are working — the lowest ever level — while half of young Irish jobseekers have been on the dole for more than a year, more than double the Celtic Tiger rate.

The figures are based on the NEETs employment category, which focuses on young people not in education, employment or training.

While the 22% rate of unemployment among 15 to 29 year olds is of concern, the 15- to 24-year-old group has raised most fears.

The report shows that, between 2007 and 2011, this Irish age bracket saw rates rise from 8% to 29.1% — a near four-fold increase.

The jump means Ireland is in line with Spain (18% to 46.4% rise), Greece (23% to 44.4%) and Lithuania (8% to 32.9%) in the crisis stakes.

During the same period, the EU average rose from 15.7% to 21.4%, while Germany and Austria saw 12%-8% and 9%-8% falls.

Among the 15 to 29 year olds unemployment group, Ireland’s 22% is on a par with Italy (22.7%), Spain (21.1%) and Bulgaria (24.6%). It is significantly higher than the 15.4% EU average and almost five times worse than the Netherlands’ 5.5%.

The long-term (12 months or more) youth unemployment levels have also surged, from 20% to 46%, in just four years — moving us from the 16th worst to the fourth worst in the region.

The report urged governments to act, as the issue prevents stability and risks alienating a generation.