Eurofound welcomes European Year of Youth 2022

The situation of young people in the EUhas long been an important focus for Eurofound’s work with particular emphasis on this cohort in recent times, examining the impact of the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. The latter has seen young people more likely than older groups to experience job loss, financial insecurity and mental health problems. At the start of the 2022 European Year of Youth, Eurofound remains committed to continuing this work to provide policymakers with the most timely, relevant and reliable data and research to address the challenges facing young people and forge a better future for Europe.

Eurofound’s most recent podcast on The impact of COVID-19 on young people highlights the vulnerabilities of young people in terms of job stability, social inclusion and mental well-being. The interview with Massimiliano Mascherini, Head of Social Policies unit, explores the need for policymakers at both EU and national level to facilitate and support young people (re-) entering and staying in the labour market, accessing good quality housing, and completing their educational trajectory and developing skills, including digital and green economy skills.

The podcast speaks about the European Year of Youth 2022, it explores the situation of young people in Europe today, their quality of life, their work, and their career prospects. It also discusses how COVID-19 has affected their mental health, their independence, as well as the broader intergenerational solidarity issues.

According to Massimiliano Mascherini, ‘what started as a health crisis has become an economic and social crisis that has hit the younger cohorts of society hard. Now, in this European year of Youth, together, we must support them to become fuller citizens who can overcome the impact of COVID-19, maintain their trust in institutions, avoid jeopardising their social capital and realise their resilience.’

Listen to the podcast: 

The impact of COVID-19 on young people

Further information: 

Infographic: Interact with Eurofound’s infographic: Youth

Read: Eurofound’s topic page: Youth

Report: Impact of COVID-19 on young people in the EU

Blog: Recovering from this pandemic means rebuilding hope for the future