European jobs wanted

Berlin

WHEN the European Union held its first summit on growth and jobs in 1997, EU-wide unemployment stood at 11 per cent. Last autumn, when it held another, not much seemed to have changed. Unemployment in the eurozone was 11.5 per cent - up from a low of 6.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2008.

If the EU is to fulfil its promise of peace and prosperity, it will need to find ways to create opportunities for more of its citizens. Youth unemployment is a particularly serious concern, even in countries with otherwise positive employment statistics; in countries with worse labour market conditions, it represents a potential source of social and political instability.

Participation in the workforce is linked not only to income levels, but also to self-esteem, social inclusion and social status. Being left out of the labour market increases the risk of poverty and poor health, and the longer unemployment lasts, the more damaging the effects. Young people who are unemployed have fewer opportunities later in life - representing a waste of education and skills that has a detrimental ef…