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Bank of Good Practices in Social Inclusion through WBL
Youth Employment Initiative (Iniciativa Emprego Jovem)
Overview
1. Established in response to the significant rise in youth unemployment across Europe following the 2008 financial crisis. By the first quarter of 2013, youth unemployment in the EU had peaked at 24.5%, with over 7 million young people not in employment, education, or training (NEETs). In Portugal, the situation was particularly severe, with high NEET rates across all regions. The IEJ aimed to combat this crisis by providing targeted support to young people to facilitate their integration into the labour market.
2. Young individuals aged 15 to 29 who are not in employment, education, or training. This includes both low-skilled youth and those with higher education qualifications who face unemployment.
3. To reduce youth unemployment and NEET rates by providing opportunities for employment, education, training, and apprenticeships. By focusing on regions and groups most affected by unemployment, the initiative promotes social inclusion and equity. It offers tailored support to diverse groups of young people, including those with varying educational backgrounds, to ensure equitable access to work-based learning (WBL) opportunities.
4. Implemented across all regions of Portugal, including the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores.
2. Young individuals aged 15 to 29 who are not in employment, education, or training. This includes both low-skilled youth and those with higher education qualifications who face unemployment.
3. To reduce youth unemployment and NEET rates by providing opportunities for employment, education, training, and apprenticeships. By focusing on regions and groups most affected by unemployment, the initiative promotes social inclusion and equity. It offers tailored support to diverse groups of young people, including those with varying educational backgrounds, to ensure equitable access to work-based learning (WBL) opportunities.
4. Implemented across all regions of Portugal, including the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores.
Objectives
1. The primary objective of the Youth Employment Initiative in Portugal is to enhance the employability and labour market integration of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEETs). This is achieved through targeted interventions such as professional internships, employment support, and entrepreneurship programs. These measures aim to provide young individuals with practical experience, skills development, and pathways to sustainable employment.
2. It specifically targets underrepresented groups, including young individuals with low qualifications, those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, and residents of regions with high NEET rates.
3. It reduces barriers to apprenticeships and vocational training through several strategic approaches:
- Financial Incentives: Providing subsidies and financial support to employers encourages the hiring of young individuals for internships and apprenticeships.
- Tailored Programs: Initiatives like structured internships that combine practical work experience with skill development, making vocational training more accessible.
- Support Services: Comprehensive support, including mentorship and career guidance, helps participants navigate the transition from education to employment.
- Regional Focus: By concentrating efforts in regions with higher unemployment rates, it ensures that resources are allocated where they are most needed, addressing regional disparities in access to vocational training.
2. It specifically targets underrepresented groups, including young individuals with low qualifications, those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, and residents of regions with high NEET rates.
3. It reduces barriers to apprenticeships and vocational training through several strategic approaches:
- Financial Incentives: Providing subsidies and financial support to employers encourages the hiring of young individuals for internships and apprenticeships.
- Tailored Programs: Initiatives like structured internships that combine practical work experience with skill development, making vocational training more accessible.
- Support Services: Comprehensive support, including mentorship and career guidance, helps participants navigate the transition from education to employment.
- Regional Focus: By concentrating efforts in regions with higher unemployment rates, it ensures that resources are allocated where they are most needed, addressing regional disparities in access to vocational training.
Implementation
Key Actions and Focus on Inclusion:
1. Targeted Regional and Social Focus
The initiative prioritized regions with high NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) rates, such as Alentejo, Algarve, Madeira, and the Azores.
This ensured that resources were directed where youth unemployment and social exclusion were most severe.
2. Creation of Tailored Programs
Several tailored measures were implemented, including:
- Estágios IEJ (IEJ Internships): Paid professional internships offering young people real work experience.
- Vida Ativa IEJ (Active Life): A mix of training and internships, especially for low-skilled youth.
- Programa Retomar: Targeted at young people who dropped out of higher education, helping them re-enter training or work.
These programs were adjusted to meet the diverse educational and professional backgrounds of young people.
3. Financial Support and Incentives
- Young participants received allowances and insurance, which helped reduce economic barriers to participation.
- Employers were encouraged through wage subsidies and hiring incentives to create more inclusive opportunities for youth.
This especially helped SMEs and employers in less economically developed areas to participate.
4. Partnerships with Local Stakeholders
The stakeholders mentioned in the question before ensured proximity-based outreach, increasing access and engagement among hard-to-reach youth.
5. Monitoring and Individualized Support
Participants often received individual follow-up and mentoring.
This helped maintain participation and addressed personal and social challenges—fostering equity and retention in WBL.
1. Targeted Regional and Social Focus
The initiative prioritized regions with high NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) rates, such as Alentejo, Algarve, Madeira, and the Azores.
This ensured that resources were directed where youth unemployment and social exclusion were most severe.
2. Creation of Tailored Programs
Several tailored measures were implemented, including:
- Estágios IEJ (IEJ Internships): Paid professional internships offering young people real work experience.
- Vida Ativa IEJ (Active Life): A mix of training and internships, especially for low-skilled youth.
- Programa Retomar: Targeted at young people who dropped out of higher education, helping them re-enter training or work.
These programs were adjusted to meet the diverse educational and professional backgrounds of young people.
3. Financial Support and Incentives
- Young participants received allowances and insurance, which helped reduce economic barriers to participation.
- Employers were encouraged through wage subsidies and hiring incentives to create more inclusive opportunities for youth.
This especially helped SMEs and employers in less economically developed areas to participate.
4. Partnerships with Local Stakeholders
The stakeholders mentioned in the question before ensured proximity-based outreach, increasing access and engagement among hard-to-reach youth.
5. Monitoring and Individualized Support
Participants often received individual follow-up and mentoring.
This helped maintain participation and addressed personal and social challenges—fostering equity and retention in WBL.
Innovative features
Mentoring programs for marginalized groups, Financial support (e.g., grants, scholarships, wage subsidies), Specialized training tailored to different learner needs, Provides financial incentives to encourage participation
Success stories
While specific individual stories are not detailed in the provided documents, the IEJ's impact is evident in the overall success rates. For instance, 90% of young people who received hiring support and 77% of those who completed professional internships were integrated into the labor market within six months of participating in the IEJ measures. These outcomes highlight the initiative's effectiveness in facilitating sustainable employment for young people.
Measured outcomes
• Reduction in Youth Unemployment: The youth unemployment rate in Portugal decreased from 38.1% in 2013 to 20.3% in 2018, with the IEJ playing a significant role in this improvement.
• Decrease in NEET Rates: The proportion of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET) fell from 16.4% in 2013 to 9.6% in 2018.
• Sustainable Employment: Approximately 90% of IEJ participants remained employed two to three years after completing the program, indicating long-term benefits.
• Quality of Employment: Among those employed six to twelve months post-program, 55% to 62% secured permanent contracts, surpassing the national average of 45% for individuals aged 18 to 34.
• Decrease in NEET Rates: The proportion of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET) fell from 16.4% in 2013 to 9.6% in 2018.
• Sustainable Employment: Approximately 90% of IEJ participants remained employed two to three years after completing the program, indicating long-term benefits.
• Quality of Employment: Among those employed six to twelve months post-program, 55% to 62% secured permanent contracts, surpassing the national average of 45% for individuals aged 18 to 34.
Challenges and lessons learned
• Limited Reach to Vulnerable Groups: The IEJ had lower participation rates among young people with lower educational attainment. For example, individuals with less than a basic education constituted 39% of NEETs but only 14% of IEJ participants.
• Recommendations: Future efforts should focus on:
- Enhancing outreach to more vulnerable and less-educated youth.
- Investing in the most effective measures, such as internships and hiring incentives.
- Tailoring interventions to better support low-skilled NEETs.
• Recommendations: Future efforts should focus on:
- Enhancing outreach to more vulnerable and less-educated youth.
- Investing in the most effective measures, such as internships and hiring incentives.
- Tailoring interventions to better support low-skilled NEETs.
- CountryPortugal
- SectorAll sectors
- Target groupNEETs and early school leavers
Leading organisation
Institute for Employment and Vocational Training IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional)
Date
2013, 2020
Key stakeholders
• Employers and Business Networks: Businesses and employer associations participated by offering internships, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities to young people, facilitating their integration into the labor market.
• Government Agencies and Policymakers: Various governmental bodies were involved in policy formulation and implementation to address youth unemployment.
• VET Providers and Training Centers: These institutions provided vocational education and training to enhance the skills and employability of young people.
• Government Agencies and Policymakers: Various governmental bodies were involved in policy formulation and implementation to address youth unemployment.
• VET Providers and Training Centers: These institutions provided vocational education and training to enhance the skills and employability of young people.
Number of beneficiaries
The Youth Employment Initiative (IEJ) in Portugal supported approximately 66,700 young people between 2013 and 2020.
