Fresh cooperation creates new youth jobs

Kicking off a project aimed at getting youth into training and work should be a high profile event, thinks Björn Nordén. He heads the organisation "Work in Västerås", which is responsible for the new bid to get young people employment. So he invited the Swedish Minister for Employment, Sven Otto Littorin, to address around hundred youths invited to the opening of the first phase of the project called "YOU" - employment information for youths.

- You have to make sure you communicate to young people that "you are our future". Many of them feel they have no worth in society after applying for hundreds of jobs and receiving no answers, says Björn Nordén.

Growing youth unemployment spurred the YOU project on. Although Västerås businesses have been less hard hit by the downturn than companies in most other Swedish cities, young people have suffered equally bad here as those in other parts of the country. One in four 18 to 24 year-olds is without work.

- Just a few years ago you could study for whatever job you fancied, but today's labour market doesn't allow that any longer. That's why it is important that we as adults help young people follow their dreams by showing them how the labour market works. Of course anybody can fulfil their dream of becoming an archaeologist - the question is whether that dream involves becoming an unemployed archaeologist, says Björn Nordén.

Cross-sector cooperation

The YOU project builds on an already well-established tradition of cooperation in Västerås. The city houses several major industries, and suffered a lack of qualified labour and employees with the right technical education during the first decade of the millennium. A few years ago the need became so desperate that the city's head of enterprise put up big posters along the main artery into the city, encouraging all passers-by to apply for one of  Västerås' many technology jobs. That was the beginning of a campaign called "1,000 jobs in Västerås". It built on cooperation between many of the large local businesses, Mälardalen University and the public sector; e.g. job centres, the municipality, the county council and the county administrative board. Just as the project went live, the economic crisis hit. The brave request for 1,000 qualified workers gained a lot of media attention. Eight months on, and despite the downturn, some 600 new jobs have been found.

- The massive need for competence made it easy to motivate businesses and other players to cooperate. We have removed obstacles between different sectors, but also prestige. Perhaps because we are an apolitical organisation, and because I approached only top leaders in all the businesses and organisations. I found an incredible desire to be part of this, says Björn Nordén.
This tradition of cooperating is now being made to work for unemployed youths. It's for their own benefit, but also for that of businesses that need future competence.

A mentor for jobs and training

Young people are told about the YOU project at job centres. If they apply and are taken on, the job seekers start an apprenticeship with a local business. They'll spend three months learning what working life entails, for instance how to follow the clock. During this time the job centre, the young job seeker and a mentor will come up with a roadmap for the future. It might involve finishing college education, tailored higher education or further  practical education. The cooperation with both private and public work places should provide the young job seeker an early taste of belonging to a work place he or she can return to for summer internships, student work or finally as a graduate - even if it takes many years. Continuity is secured by the mentor who is introduced at the work place where the young job seeker begins his or her journey. The job center or the work place will pay a small salary during these first months. Training is financed as normal through student loans and grants.

- We managed this with existing resources, and it costs nothing apart from the mentor's time. What is more, this is the world's cheapest recruitment drive, says Björn Nordén.

But what do we know about the labour market's future needs? Do we not run a risk of getting stuck in today's labour needs, while missing out on innovative solutions for the future? Björn Nordén says there is no risk. Dreams are tested out, just like ideas. There are already links to the city innovators for those who carry visions of creating something new. Many might end up working with Västerås science park.

This autumn some one hundred youths have been to their introductory meeting for the YOU project. Six of the largest businesses in Västerås are on board. More young people and more businesses will join the project in the months to come.

- It's time to put the ideas into action, says Björn Nordén and disappears into the throng of Västerås Centrum, greeting everyone he meets.