Canary Islands Youth Employment Initiative

Overview

The Canary Islands government has approved an initiative to address stubbornly high youth unemployment rates, which remain above the national and European averages.

The new regulation establishes a €2 million fund to subsidize internships for unemployed young people aged 18 to 29 with university or professional qualification registration in the National Guarantee Youth System.

Objectives and Priorities

Focus on Hands-on Experience:
- Prioritizes providing practical work experience.
- Helps young people with academic backgrounds but limited practical skills to integrate into the labor market.
- Aims to support professional development.
Targeted Participants:
- Unemployed youth aged 18 to 29.
- Registered in the National Guarantee Youth System.
Participating Organizations:
- Public entities.
- Non-profit private entities.
- Must propose projects aligned with public interest and social welfare.
- Focus on youth employment and social inclusion.

Internship Details

Type: Full-time, 12-month internships.
Funding Scheme: Supported through a cofunding scheme with the European Social Fund Plus (FSE+).
Coverage: Up to 85% of costs including:
- Salaries.
- Social security contributions.
- Administrative costs.
- Public outreach.

Selection Criteria

Organizations with proven youth expertise.
Regional presence.
Well-defined project plans.

Policy Alignment and Safeguards

The regulation aligns with broader European efforts under the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 8 for sustainable economic growth and decent work.

Enforces strict transparency.
Ensures accountability.
Implements anti-fraud measures.
Guarantees funds reach target beneficiaries and are properly reported.

Expected Outcomes

Creation of quality work experiences.
Boosting youth employment.
Fostering social cohesion in the Canary Islands.

This initiative responds to a pressing regional challenge with coordinated national and European support.