Collaboration and the Right Support Make a Difference for Youth Exclusion
Local efforts can reduce the number of young people neither working nor studying. A new report shows that collaboration and the right support make a difference.
Every year, approximately 130,000 young people in Sweden are outside the labor market and the education system – a group referred to as UVAS (young people neither working nor studying). Many of these young individuals become entrenched in long-term exclusion.
A new report from IFAU, written by Tomas Korpi, professor of sociology at the Institute for Social Research, and Renate Minas, professor of social work at the Department of Social Work, both at Stockholm University, demonstrates that local initiatives combined with effective collaboration among various actors can have a significant impact in reducing the number of UVAS.
"The Ability to Identify Young People Early"
The report shows that successful municipalities have functioning networks among different authorities and actors, identify UVAS groups early, and tailor their efforts accordingly. Coordinated Individual Plans (SIP) and comprehensive social interventions are crucial for municipalities that have managed to reduce the number of UVAS.
"Our research shows that certain municipalities can identify young people at risk of becoming UVAS early and provide them with the right support at the right time. This early and well-coordinated intervention makes the difference," says Renate Minas from the Department of Social Work at Stockholm University.
Collaboration and Social Support Lead to Success
No universal solution exists for all municipalities, but certain approaches are particularly successful.
"What we see is that successful municipalities do not necessarily have a single solution; rather, they adapt their efforts to local needs and conditions," says Tomas Korpi from the Swedish Institute for Social Research.
Coordination across different policy areas and extensive social support are central components in municipalities with lower-than-expected UVAS rates. Initiatives encompassing multiple sectors, such as education, labor market, and social services, are crucial to supporting these young people.
"Reducing the number of UVAS involves more than just financial support. It requires a holistic approach to combine social support, education, and labor market policies to create long-term solutions for young people," says Tomas Korpi.
How the Study Was Conducted
The study is based on interviews with officials from a selection of Swedish municipalities. The choice was made by calculating the risk of young people aged 16–24 ending up in the UVAS group based on both individual and structural factors.
The expected number of UVAS in each municipality was then compared with the actual number. Municipalities with the largest positive and negative differences were selected – a total of 20 municipalities.
In these municipalities, 60 officials were interviewed about how local efforts for UVAS were organized.
The differences between municipalities that performed better than expected and others were then studied using qualitative comparative analysis.
Contacts at Stockholm university
- Tomas Korpi, The Insitute for Social Research, tomas.korpi@sofi.su.se
- Renate Minas, Department of Social Work, renate.minas@socarb.su.se
Learn more
The reoprt Lokala åtgärder för unga som varken arbetar eller studerar. (In Swedish)
Last updated: November 11, 2024
Source: MD