Changes at "🏛️ Youth-Led Fairer Career Support through Cross-Sector Action "
Title (English)
- +🏛️ Government Interventions for Fairer Career Support
Title (Polski)
Title (Italiano)
Title (Magyar)
Title (Português)
Title (Українська)
Title (Algherese)
Body (English)
- +<p><strong>What is the issue?</strong><br>Young people are navigating outdated and fragmented systems when it comes to career advice and work experience. Many receive poor or irrelevant guidance, lack access to real-world opportunities, and face administrative or financial barriers when trying to gain meaningful experience. Employers, especially small businesses, are often willing to help but are discouraged by insurance requirements or a lack of structured support. The system currently depends too much on chance — a “lottery” — rather than equitable, planned pathways.</p><p><strong>What is being proposed?</strong></p><ol>
- +<li><p><strong>Incentivise better-quality work experience</strong><br>Encourage businesses to offer meaningful placements through <strong>incentives such as tax breaks, public recognition, or grants</strong>. Placements should allow young people to contribute, learn, and be treated as part of the work culture.</p></li>
- +<li>
- +<p><strong>Modernise the national career support framework</strong><br>The current model must evolve with the times. Proposals include:</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p><strong>Updated training for career advisors</strong> (including digital and local labour trends)</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>Clear national guidelines</strong> with room for <strong>regional tailoring</strong></p></li>
- +<li><p>Longer one-on-one sessions to provide personalised advice</p></li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +<li><p><strong>Relax and simplify insurance requirements</strong><br>Reform government regulations to <strong>ease insurance and liability barriers</strong> for businesses that host young people. In some cases, government-backed insurance schemes could support access to placements, especially for SMEs.</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>Use data and networks to align opportunities</strong><br>Leverage data platforms to <strong>match young people with local work opportunities</strong>. Enable engagement with <strong>external career consultants, mentors, and employers</strong>, especially in regions where school-based advice is insufficient.</p></li>
- +</ol><p><strong>Clarifications and insights from forum and play:</strong></p><ul>
- +<li><p>Effective work experience must be <strong>tailored, inclusive, and skills-focused</strong></p></li>
- +<li><p>It should expose young people to <strong>multiple career paths</strong>, not just one</p></li>
- +<li><p>Needs to begin early and be <strong>part of a broader strategy of preparation</strong></p></li>
- +<li><p>Career advice should be <strong>accessible and consistent across schools</strong></p></li>
- +<li><p>Local implementation requires support from <strong>central government funding and policy</strong></p></li>
- +</ul><p><strong>Amendments suggested by forum participants:</strong></p><ul>
- +<li><p>Focus on <strong>transferable skills</strong> across sectors</p></li>
- +<li><p>Address <strong>inequities</strong> in access and support through targeted policy</p></li>
- +<li><p>Ensure local governments have the <strong>resources</strong> to implement improvements</p></li>
- +<li><p>Create a structure that <strong>brings all key players into the room</strong> — employers, advisors, youth workers, and learners themselves</p></li>
- +</ul><p><strong>Expected benefits:</strong></p><ul>
- +<li><p>Improved quality and equity in work experiences</p></li>
- +<li><p>Career support that reflects real economic and social conditions</p></li>
- +<li><p>Stronger employer engagement in youth development</p></li>
- +<li><p>Better preparation of students for life and work</p></li>
- +<li><p>Reduced stress, mismatches, and disillusionment</p></li>
- +</ul>
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