- Title: SPAIN: Country's youth faces tough times as unemployment tops 4 million
- Date: 6th February 2010
- Summary: SPAIN, MADRID (FEBRUARY 4, 2010) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING IN CENTRAL MADRID YOUNG MAN WALKING
- Embargoed: 21st February 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Employment,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA80P6IIFUIQV7RQB2VWK85I9TW
- Story Text: Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was Friday (February 5) expected to announce reforms intended to reduce spiralling unemployment, especially among the young.
Spanish graduates face unemployment rates among people under 25 of 44.5 percent -- double the Eurozone average.
The number registered as unemployed in Spain topped 4 million in January, official data showed on Tuesday (February 2), nearing 20 percent of the population, and with young people one of the most affected groups.
But a lot of new graduates who aren't listed as unemployed yet, are finding it difficult to break into the job market, and are accepting trainee positions as the only way of getting their foot in the door.
They are forced to live with their parents while studying and after they've finished their studies as the money earned as trainees is too low to be able to leave the nest.
Art History student Andrea has finished her degree but now finds herself working for a gallery for free.
"After studying for a 5-year degree or a 3-year (degree) or after all the work we've done, it's worth nothing. We are studying for a lot of years, following our dreams and trying build up our future just to increase unemployment lists," she said.
Twenty-five year old Elvira finished her journalism degree in 2001 but helps her parents out at their bakery in the village of Yuncos, south of Madrid.
After two years of job searching, she is now preparing an examination for a public competition. She said she has restarted studying in the hope to find stability.
"To not have stability in your life and still be living as a teenager. Like when you were 15 years old. Or maybe you get some kind of job like private teaching or something sporadic, but you can't see progress in your life," she said.
Companies in Spain have sacked temporary workers, who are mostly young people. Consumption has also fallen, with firms selling less and unable to take new people in.
"Well, I think we should encourage young people to get into the companies. For instance, universities should encourage training at the companies," said ONE to ONE Capital Partners CEO Enrique Quemada.
"Right now, there are very few training positions at the companies for young people, and on the other hand to bring back the apprentice position, which exists in other countries in Europe and the government should help subsidize the companies which take young people in. For instance, letting them reduce (the contribution to) social healthcare, or even tax incentives. (We) have to get young people into the companies and give them a quick start. It makes no sense that a young person studies, studies and studies and gets his first job at the age of 27. (We) have to encourage them starting and learning to work," he said.
Thirty-one year old Cesar is an unemployed veterinarian. He lost his job a year ago when the firm he was working for went bankrupt. He says there are so many people looking for work that it's impossible to find a job.
"A job offer was published that same day in the morning and I called (them) around three hours later and they told me that there had been so many people calling that it already was impossible to get the job. But that is a situation that has been going on all over this time," he said.
High unemployment is expected to make it difficult for the government to meet its promise to slash spending and reduce the budget deficit to 3 percent of gross domestic product in 2013 from 11.4 percent last year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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