ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the way in which the young long-term unemployed become socially excluded. It looks at the composition of the group of unemployed young people. It shows that a model for the improvement of the situation of the young long-term unemployed must have significance from the point of view of the young people themselves. The experience of the POVERI project implemented in the city of Pori, revealed five different types of long-term unemployed youth. These young people lack education and work experience, but are eager to obtain a job or have more education and they are unemployed only due to the unfavourable labour market situation. The chapter argues that helping the long-term unemployed youth is, or should be, practised by a large number of people and organisations, including employment officers, social workers, public-health professionals, psychiatrists, and voluntary workers. Professionals working with the long-term unemployed youth need a comprehensive work-orientation.
