Leipzig Declaration "Youth Unemployment as a European Challenge"

main page East InitiativeGood Practices

Objective

Youth unemployment remains a scandal - in Germany as well as in all of Europe. This issue needs to be put on the agenda of decision-makers in business, politics and society. Despite good news from the economy, this problem will not disappear automatically. Everybody is called on to contribute to surmounting this challenge.

The signees of this declaration feel called upon to raise awareness among Europe's decision-makers for the issue of youth unemployment. The Tönissteiner Group does not intend to merely point at the massive problem, but also wants to put to use its network of experts from the worlds of academia, business and politics to promote promising measures against youth unemployement and to communicate comprehensive solutions.

Analysis

Youth unemployment is part of the current level of general unemployment which remains high despite the economic pick-up. Even though innovation creates new employment opportunities, technological progress still leads to the systematic replacement of human workforce, particularly eliminating blue-collar jobs. No sector is left out: industrial companies as well as service providers and public administration become more efficient with every new technology that becomes implemented. Globalisation forces European companies to further rationalise in many aspects. School education for the young generation does not always provide the sufficient foundation needed for a promising professional career and the skills and flexibility needed for today's labor market. Because of the demographic development, Europe's societies can not afford to not prepare a large part of their young generations for the labor markets. Besides negative consequences for businesses and the economy, youth unemployment also causes growing social and political challenges resulting in destabilising tendencies for civil societies and their democratic systems. Social disconnect, youth crime, political radicalisation are such consequences which - in varying degrees - can be seen particularly in France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland as well as smaller EU Member States.

Demands

At conferences with local experts and young leaders in 2006/2007, which took place in Rostock, Frankfurt (Oder), and Leipzig, the Tönissteiner Group has developed the following catalogue of demands - based on regional experiences and aiming at the European dimension.

  • The quality of school education must be improved!
    The desire to learn, the mindset of being proactive and elementary skills like reading, writing, the basics of arithmetics must be developed early on. Not just a plain transfer of knowledge is needed but a boost to the individual potential of each student and the opportunities for each to explore their areas of academic interest. De-centralised concepts and the competition among Europe's education systems (PISA-evaluation) deserve support. Local and regional solutions must be communicated better and placed in efficient networks.
  • School education must focus on the professional future of students!
    Focusing on finding an adequate profession for each youth must be a key objective in school education. By developing personal, social and academic skills, a successful transition from school to further education and eventually a job can be achieved. Projects and initiatives of schools and companies can help in this effort (and can be successful across borders with partners from neighboring countries!).
  • Young people without school leaving certifiate and / or without an apprenticeship or another form of secondary education need dedicated promotion and incentives while subscribing to meet benchmarks!
    The decline in some young people's interest in professional careers must be stopped. Especially young people in groups, among which a mere materialistic approach is gaining ground and the satisfaction that derives from productive results accomplished through work becomes less attractive, need positive new role models and fresh perspectives - in order to resist negative peer pressure. Measures that focus on these young people's re-integration in the civil society can be a good step prior to introducing them to programmes for professional qualification.
  • Innovative companies should more often have the right of way!
    Measures that have a sustainable approach should be supported, because they promote the qualifications of the next generations for the labor market. Students in primary schools and even younger children should be introduced to technology to foster their interest in and understanding of innovation. Innovative companies create new jobs and: new kinds of jobs.
  • In-service training in companies must come before external vocational programmes!
    The goal of every apprenticeship must be a succesful launch of a professional career. External programmes must live up to this requirement.
  • Sustainable approaches must be communicated better in the EU!
    Succesful measures are all too often limited locally or regionally. Successful concepts and measures have to be communicated more broadly through targeted and EU-wide information management and stronger networking among businesses, academia and politics.

Therefore, the Tönissteiner Group wants to support the efforts against youth unemployment by communicating good practices.

Leipzig, 11 May 2007

Signees

members of the Tönissteiner Group:
Dr. Klaus Wagner      Dr. Felix Böllmann      Thomas Kühnelt      Thoralf Schwanitz