Long-term unemployment among young people: the risk of social exclusion

The European Union considers long-term unemployment among youth an impediment to their full integration into society. The Commission of the European Union has, therefore, supported research into the mechanisms by which youth unemployment leads to "social exclusion." This paper provides a brief summary of the project's findings. These imply that theories and previous research concerning social exclusion and social support can help explain the effects of youth unemployment although the phenomena vary from country to country. Results also suggest that the construct of social exclusion leads to interventions that reduce the personal and societal costs of youth unemployment.