ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the role of the EU's Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) in addressing youth unemployment. It looks beyond the now well-established repertoire of ESIF interventions, set out in the European Commission's call for action on youth unemployment and its memo on how the EU Social Fund (ESF) can support the Youth Guarantee. The chapter presents interim findings from a large-scale evaluation of a €130 million seven-year programme (called Talent Match) in England, which is being funded by the UK's Big Lottery Fund. It considers the challenge of youth unemployment, drawing out evidence to highlight the complexity and severity of the challenge. The chapter also explains about the Talent Match programme and outlines its evaluation. Involvement and resilience are concerned a priori with two very different understandings of youth unemployment. Youth involvement is situated very much within a structural and political critique of labour markets.
