Regional factors influencing the implementation and effect of the immediate action programme to reduce youth unemployment

Abstract

"The most important aim of the 'Federal Government's immediate action programme to reduce youth unemployment' is undoubtedly the reduction of youth unemployment and in particular long-term unemployment among young people. In this respect one may assume that in regions with poor initial situations on the labour market and apprenticeship market the possibilities of the immediate action programme for young people will also be used more intensively. Even though this thesis is confirmed, further examination makes it clear that the range of measures is used very differently in the employment office areas. The behaviour of the labour market players is determined both by structural basic conditions and by alternative possibilities, experiences and co-operation partners. The co-operation of the employment offices with relevant labour market partners is evaluated in depth in ten selected employment office areas. The immediate action programme is seen to have a positive effect on the intensity of co-operation between the employment office and the youth welfare and social assistance offices. The analysis provides first indications of intensive co-operation between the employment office and other regional players in labour market and social policy resulting in a reduction in youth unemployment. After this the effect that regional disparities and different strategies for implementing the immediate action programme in 1999 had on the development of youth unemployment and persistent unemployment among young people between 1998 and 2000 is analysed using multivariate regression models. Here the considerable influence of the general employment trend on the regional reduction of youth unemployment can be seen. Taking into account regional and structural basic conditions it becomes clear in addition that the use of the immediate action programme only explains to a small extent the differences in the regional development of youth unemployment. It is necessary to emphasise in particular the positive effects that the immediate action programme for young people has on the reduction of long-term unemployment among young people. The proportion of long-term unemployed young people fell more considerably in employment office areas which make increased use of wage subsidies and employment creation measures with partial qualificationfor young people than it did in other areas." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Rothe, T. (2001): Regionale Einflussfaktoren auf die Implementation und Wirkung des Sofortprogramms zum Abbau der Jugendarbeitslosigkeit. In: Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Vol. 34, No. 4, p. 440-460.