Study sought means to prevent young people's social exclusion
The final report of a collaborative study, Yhteiskunnan syrjällä (on the fringes of society), was released on 21 September. It sought ways to support young people who are excluded from education and work.
The project analysed the number and situation of youth aged from 16 to 29, who were outside any degree studies and working life, the present state of services targeted at this group, and the needs for developing services in Finland. The project produced policy recommendations proposing, for example, ways to remove barriers to access to and overlap of services. The report puts forward the following policy recommendations:
- low threshold services for young people in every municipality
- one trusted employee and one plan for young people in need of targeted (multi-professional) support
- elimination of transition traps and their replacement by continuity
- future assistance instead of social assistance
- management of the support system as an entity.
In 2013, about 45,000 young people were neither in upper secondary education nor in working life in Finland
According to the employment statistics of 2013, about 45,000 young people aged 16 to 29 were excluded from upper secondary education and working life in Finland. Of these, the number of speakers of the national languages had dropped by nearly one third from 2000 to 2013. The relative number of speakers of foreign languages among marginalised youth had also decreased, even though the total number of young people speaking foreign languages had tripled in the 21st century. More than a third of speakers of both foreign and national languages live alone and 4,800 are homeless. Lone and homeless youth often support themselves by means of a very modest social support.
The research found differences between the regions
Examination of the results by regions showed that young people's situation was the worst in Kymenlaakso both among speakers of the national and foreign languages. More than a fourth of those speaking foreign languages and about 7 per cent of those speaking the national languages were excluded from education and work and did not have a post-comprehensive degree. The situation of speakers of foreign languages is poor also in the regions of Kainuu, Lapland and South Savo. Speakers of the national languages fare poorly not only in Kymenlaakso but also in the Päijät-Häme and Kanta-Häme regions.
Youth suffering from umpteen problems find it difficult to get help and support
When problems pile up, it is often difficult for young people to get the help and support that they would need. In a highly specialised jungle of services, which is difficult to comprehend, it can be hard to find the right service, and all young persons do not manage alone. Young persons in need of targeted and special support must move from one service to another more often than usual, because the support services and education opportunities are structured by age and target groups. They can also be entitled to support provided by several authorities and professionals without any of them being aware of the whole situation. Transitions from one age group or service to another involve the risk that young people drop in between or entirely beyond the different services.
Better solutions to support youth outside education and working life is a publication produced under the Government's plan for analysis, assessment and research in 2014. The project was conducted by researchers and specialists from the University of Eastern Finland, the Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, the Helsinki Deaconess Institute, and the National Institute for Health and Welfare. The statistical analysis was produced by Pekka Myrskylä, Head of Development emeritus, Statistics Finland.
Better solutions to support youth outside education and working life -study (in Finnish)
Further information about the Government’s analysis, assessment and research activities