ABSTRACT
Ros Searle looks at the nature and degree of youth unemployment across the world, highlighting the distinct and accumulative consequences for young people, their families and society. She reveals an array of different evidence to argue that youth unemployment and underemployment are global problems, with local dimensions and with interventions that can be improved through the application of psychological insights. She outlines three distinct and global trends: the steady rise in youth unemployment; the distinct disadvantages for those from lower-socioeconomic groups, minority groups and new migrants, and women; the role of education and its separation from work and labour market trends. She outlines the evidence regarding more effective and psychologically-informed interventions in developing young people’s career adaptability, their sense of control, as well as the effectiveness of their job search and selection processes. She identifies the value of more attention being devoted to raising knowledge levels amongst teachers and parents to enhance their value to young people, and in having more focus on managing the transition between school and work.
