Youth unemployment has been, for years, one of the most concerning problems in Catalonia and in Spain as a whole. If we add the consequences of the economic crisis derived from the pandemic to this structural problem, we find very high youth unemployment figures. Currently, they stand at 38.1% in Catalonia, and 29.9% in Barcelona, two figures below the Spanish average (40.1%), but much higher than the European Union average, which is 17%. In the last year, youth unemployment in Barcelona has increased by 53.8%, reaching a total of 14,890 people. To address this critical situation, the Barcelona City Council has decided to create a new Youth Employment Promotion Plan, to which 12 million euros will be allocated and which is expected to serve 15,000 young people.
This new plan is aimed at young people who are unemployed or who are active but with precarious jobs. The 12 million euros budget will be provided by Barcelona Activa, the Department of Youth of the City Council, the Barcelona FP Foundation, the Catalonia Employment Consortium, and the Public Employment Service of Catalonia. Last year, 9 million euros were allocated to the same objectives, so this year's plan represents a 25% increase. Regarding entrepreneurship, 39% of entrepreneurs in the province of Barcelona are young people, and for this reason, this new plan also aims to boost this sector.
Areas of action
The resources will be used to create measures in different areas, such as strengthening support, advice, and professional guidance. In this sense, different devices will be created in the Infojove service, as well as the Aquí t'escoltem service, which will be expanded with a new point in the Eixample district. Another aspect that this new plan wants to promote is training in digital skills. It aims to digitize advisory, training, and support services; as well as strengthen digital training programs. Face-to-face training actions, where possible, and online from Cibernàrium de Barcelona Activa are included.
One of the priorities in the current context is to recover employment and hiring, especially hard hit among young people. The actions included in the new plan range from a package of about 150 direct hires of young people through Comprehensive Projects with Hiring, to mentoring programs exclusively for those under 35, and also the Crea Treball Barcelona program, through which subsidies will be granted for the hiring of young people to companies affected by the economic crisis. The third edition of the Saló de l'Ocupació will also be held, a space to encourage entrepreneurship and new business lines.
Finally, the new Youth Employment Promotion Plan will pay special attention to groups in situations of vulnerability and precariousness. Instruments and services aimed at young people with special difficulties and needs will be reinforced, such as young people without previous experience, or those affected by Covid-19, among others. Also, the Labor Rights Defense Points will be reinforced and cycles on labor rights and specific sectors will be created through the legal advice of the Department of Youth, in order to continue fighting for decent working conditions.