Norway expands youth employment program to reach more young people

Aleksander Piotr, a 22-year-old in Norway, started a job washing and preparing cars at Avis in Kristiansand and Arendal after participating in a government youth program.

Before joining the initiative, Piotr remained unemployed for four years after leaving high school due to difficulties concentrating on subjects that did not interest him. He now says the work gives his life meaning and allows him to stay active.

The program, managed by Nav, helps young people between the ages of 18 and 29 enter the workforce or education. It provides a monthly income to participants who engage in full-time activities every day. Unlike some other social services, this specific initiative does not require a formal medical diagnosis before a person can receive benefits, a move designed to provide immediate motivation for those who have never held a job.

Kristina Sagstuen, a competence advisor in Arendal, reports that nearly 80 percent of the 36 participants who completed the program in her area moved into jobs or education. The government is currently increasing funding to expand the project, raising the national participant target from 700 to 1,150. Minister of Labour and Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng stated that the goal is to reach the 100,000 young people in Norway who currently remain outside of work or education.

The program will run as a pilot project for four more years before the government decides if it will become the national standard.