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Why do so many young people get lost in the labour market?

Coca‑Cola HBC Hungary helps 8000 youngsters find jobs with a training program.

While Hungarian unemployment rate is the third most favourable in the European Union, youth unemployment is still twice as high as that. Today, most of the companies struggle with labour shortage, but at the same time many young people cannot find a job. Experts say remedy of this situation lies in strengthening primary education and launching a new type of training focusing on communication competences. Coca‑Cola HBC Hungary starts a training called #YouthEmpowered this autumn free of charge which will teach young people self-awareness, how to handle job interview situations and feedbacks.

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The latest labour market statistics show that Hungary has an unemployment rate of about 5 percent which is the third lowest in the European Union with only the Czech Republic and Germany having lower rates. Although it keeps falling fast, youth unemployment rate is still around 10 percent, which is twice as much as the overall rate. Government experts, researchers and industry professionals agree that besides economic incentives, better trainings and a cooperation between governmental and industry players would be needed to have more young people employed.

Public Affairs and Communication Director at Coca‑Cola HBC Hungary Co. Valentin Tóth presented #YouthEmpowered program of the soft drink bottler focusing on the development of communication competences. The manager explained uniqueness of this training with a research commissioned by Coca‑Cola HBC Hungary saying that the lack of exactly those competences related to self-awareness, self-confidence and communication skills was the reason for youth being unable to find a job.

We will provide training for a total of 8000 youth by 2020. It is our great pleasure that we have entered into partnership with professional and civic organisations, and that the Department for Labour Market Affairs in the General Department of Employment and the DG for Social Affairs and Child Protection and its regional offices, universities and youth organisations participate in our recruitment program

Valentin Tóth Public Affairs and Communication Director at Coca Cola HBC Hungary
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State Secretary for Labour Market and Training, Péter Cseresnyés took the floor at the conference saying that he agreed more trainings for the development of competences, even special competences were in demand to match the need of employers and the requirements of jobseekers. The policy maker emphasised that youth unemployment had dropped to one-third in Hungary since 2012 due to the labour market measures introduced by the government in the last few years. He said that the reduction from social contribution given to companies in return for employing young people who are long-term unemployed amounts to hundreds of millions of forints.

The activity and employment rate of Hungarian youth has improved constantly since 2011. However, the activity rate of youth was just about 32 percent in 2016, as opposed to the international average of 45.8 percent. Youngsters having dropped out of both education and jobs are mostly at the risk of long-term unemployment. The new training program of Coca‑Cola HBC Hungary targets exactly these young people.