The potentially long lasting harmful consequences of unemployment and inactivity early in life, both for those affected by it and to the environment, are well documented. Youth in Europe have been particularly affected by the recent economic crisis (OECD 2010). Young people with reduced working capacity are particularly vulnerable. Youth unemployment and NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) indicators are part of the new Scoreboard of key employment and social indicators which identify the major employment and social imbalances within the EU. Reducing school drop-out, enhancing labour market participation among those receiving disability benefits and encouraging labour market attachment among low skilled youth are three of twelve main skills challenges for Norway according to OECD Skills Strategy Diagnostic Report for Norway (2014). In this project we aim to investigate these concerns.
Key questions in the project are:
- How does the transition between education and employment vary with physical and psychological health problems?
- How important is health and skills for explaining the relationship between not completing secondary school and later outcomes?
- Are young people in secondary school dropping out “too soon”, or is it beneficial for some to drop out when business cycles are favourable?
- How serious is it for later outcomes to be NEET at a young age, and how do outcomes vary with late completion of upper secondary school versus other training or work related experiences?
- Does the “Youth guarantee” for those with reduced work capacity help in the transition to education or work?