Report requires pro-active Inclusion of young people with disabilities

Young people that are disabled or are having health problems have been unnoticed by both employment policy and practices. This is a key result of a current report from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (‘Eurofound’) discussing the active inclusion of these youngsters. The main aim of the research was to analyse the implementation of policies to move young people with health problems or disabilities from inactivity into employment. In this study, the situation of young people with health problems or disabilities in 11 countries (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and at EU level has been examined. Assessing the implementation of active inclusion policy at national level was the emphasis of the report.

A range of policies are relevant for the situation of young people with health problems or disabilities. The most appropriate strategy seems to be ‘active inclusion’ with its emphasis on joint actions across the pillars of flexible income support, inclusive labour market measures, access to social and health services and lifelong learning. A trend towards dealing with the needs of people with health problems or disabilities in mainstream rather than specialist services has been identified by the report. The targeting of young people with disabilities or health problems by these measures still varies considerably across EU member states. The report showcases 44 innovative case studies from across the EU Member States. They show how to strengthen the integrated approach to skills development, training and job placement. The cases underline the value of rapid placement in a real job to ensure momentum is maintained.

In the current crisis, nearly all EU member states are experiencing high levels of unemployment and economic inactivity amongst young people. The social and economic disadvantages associated with ill-health or disability are reflected in the employment rates of people with very severe or severe degrees of disability, currently at 20% and 44% respectively, the report says. To combat this, an increasing number of them have been entering disability or social assistance schemes.

Fortunately, several countries have been paying more attention to this issue, including Norway, the UK, Denmark, Finland and most of all the Netherlands where the dramatic increase was quite evident due to a separate benefit scheme for youngsters. The new report says that until now public policies have not given enough support to the implementation of positive and pro-active approaches such as supporting recruitment, acknowledgment and retention of staff with disabilities.