YOUTH CIVIC

2CHAPTER
Many Governments have acknowledged the devastating
long-term consequences of unemployment
for both young individuals and society and have
placed dealing with the youth unemployment crisis
at the top of both national and international agendas
in a bid to keep the possibility of a “lost generation of
young workers” from becoming a reality. Investing in
skills development and training, establishing internships,
and promoting entrepreneurship have been
identified as key tools in addressing the crisis.
Although legitimate efforts are being made to mitigate
the effects of the crisis through the types of targeted
programmes and schemes mentioned above,
many young people still fall through the cracks
and are left to navigate the employment landscape
themselves. The present chapter highlights how
through internships (Gianni Rosas), entrepreneurship
(Claudia Pompa), and participation in trade unions
(Amy F. Huziak), young people are navigating their
engagement in a changing labour market.
INTERNSHIPS
Young people are increasingly turning to internships as
a gateway to the labour market. With limited employment
opportunities available, internships can provide an
excellent opportunity for young people to gain occupational
knowledge and develop skills and capabilities
to better equip them for a career in their desired field.
Historically, internships have been linked to either
educational or policy outcomes, with many youth
undertaking internships as part of their educational
curriculum. In such placements, a primary focus is
placed on the learning outcomes for the young person.
In recent years, the economic crisis has brought
about a shift in the role internships play within the
employment framework in many areas. Increasing
numbers of companies and organizations are offering,
often full-time and unpaid, internships for recent
graduates. In such incidents, the internship is not
necessarily linked to specific educational outcomes,
and in many cases the work of the young intern is
replacing that of regular staff.
In developed countries in particular, would-be
interns are facing a new dynamic. Whereas traditionally
an internship would have been the first step
towards a paying job within a company or organization,
there has been a trend in recent years for
employers to offer unpaid internships with no possibility
of career progression within the organization.
Today, it is not uncommon for young people to
undertake numerous back-to-back unpaid or lowpaid
internships as they struggle to gain a foothold
on the career ladder. Far from better preparing young
people for economic life, unpaid internships have
the potential to leave youth in an economically more
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