Spain has more ninis (young people that neither work nor study) than any other European country except Italy
According to a report published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) today 15.3% of Spain’s young people between the ages of 16 and 24 neither work nor study. After Italy (15.9%) this is the second highest level of so called ninis in Europe.
Out of all EU countries the average figure for this group nicknamed ninis was estimated to be 9.9% in 2009 while out of coutries belonging to the OECD the average was 10.9%. The report by the OECD also warns that urgent reforms aimed at creating more jobs for young people such as those in the United Kingdom for the under 18 year olds or programmes in Belgium that are designed to help young people find their first job need to be introduced.
In addition to having the second highest level of youth unemployment the report also highlights the fact that in 2009 Spain had one of the highest levels of dropping out of school early at 35.
6% which is more than double the average for its European neighbours (15%). The report by the OECD also picks up on the fact that young people between the ages of 16 and 24 years old have less than half the opportunities for finding a job than older citizens and says that very few countries take positive action to help young people find jobs.
The report also looks to the future and forecasts that youth unemployment in OECD countries will continue at similar levels. According to the report it will remain at about 18% in 2011 which is more than double the unemployment rate. In 2009 youth unemployment in Spain rose to 37.9% compared to 30.8% who were in employment.
The report by the OECD places Spain as the second country with the highest number of young people between the ages of 20 and 24 years old who neither work nor study (19.
4%).
Today, the General Secretary of the OECD, Angel Gurría, said that investment in young people is fundamental in order to prevent a generation being singled out and being placed at risk of being excluded from wider society in the long term. In order to achieve this he said it was necessary to learn from countries which have made it easier for young people to find a job such as Denmark, Holland, Switzerland or Australia.
