Living on the Edge - An Empirical Analysis on Long-term Youth Unemployment and Social Exclusion in Europe

Living on the Edge - An Empirical Analysis on Long-term Youth Unemployment and Social Exclusion in Europe

Psychology of Social Inequality, vol. 11 Edited by Thomas Kiesel bach, University of Bremen YUSEDER Publications, no. 3

Thomas Kieselbach, Kees van Heeringen, Michele La Rosa, Louis Lemkow, Katerina Sokou and Bengt Starrin (Eds.) Living on the Edge- An Empirical Analysis on Long-term Youth Unemployment and Social Exclusion in Europe Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH 2001

The editors: Prof. Dr. Thomas Kieselbach is the international coordinator of the research project "Youth Unemployment and Social Exclusion: Objective Dimensions, Subjective Experiences, and Innovative Institutional Responses in Six European Countries" (YUSEDER). The project is supported by the Research Directorate General of the European Commission (DG XII) within the Targeted Socio-Economic Research Programme (TSER) of the 4th framework programme. He is head of the Institute for Psychology of Work, Unemployment, and Health (lpg) at the University of Bremen (Germany) and teaches work and health psychology. From 2000-2003 he coordinates another European research project on "Social Convoy and Sustainable Employability: Innovative Outplacement/Replacement Counselling" (SOCOSE) in the European research programme,improving the Socio-Economic Knowledge Base". Prof. Dr. Kees van Heeringen is the Belgian partner of YUSEDER. He is professor of psychiatry and Chef de Clinique of the Department of Psychiatry in the University Hospital Gent and director of the Unit for Suicide Research at the University of Gent. Prof. Dr. Michele La Rosa is the Italian partner of YUSEDER. He is professor of work and industrial sociology at the University of Bologna and director of the International Centre for Documentation and Sociological Studies on Labour Issues (C.I.Do.S.Pe.L.) in the Department of Sociology at the University of Bologna. Prof. Dr. Louis Lemkow is the Spanish partner of YUSEDER. He is professor of sociology and vice-rector of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He has worked in several European projects and cooperated closely with WHOIEURO in the areas of inequalities and health. Katerina Sokou, M.A., is the Greek partner of YUSEDER. She is health sociologist, director of the Health Promoting School Sector at the Institute of Child Health in Athens, and president of the Greek Network of Health Promoting Schools. Prof. Dr. Bengt Starrin is the Swedish partner of YUSEDER. He is professor of social work at Karlstad University in the Centre for Public Health Research. He has cooperated closely with WHOIEURO on unemployment and health. Die Deutsche Bibliothek- CIP-Einheitsaufnahme ISBN 978-3-8100-2929-4 ISBN 978-3-663-10674-6 ( ebook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-663-10674-6 2001 Springer Faclnnedien Wiesbaden Originally published by Leske+ Budrich, Op1aden in 2001 Das Werk einschlieblich aller seiner Teile ist urheberrechtlich geschtitzt. Jede Verwendung auberhalb der engen Grenzen des Urheberrechtsgesetzes ist ohne Zustimmung des Verlages unzuhissig und strafbar. Das gilt insbesondere flir VervieWiltigungen, Obersetzungen, Mikroverfilmungen und die Einspeicherung und Verarbeitung in elektronischen Systemen. Gedruckt auf saurefreiem und alterungsbestandigem Papier.

Contents Introduction Thomas Kieselbach... 13 Executive Summary... 17 Comparative Report young people in six countries of the EU Thomas Kieselbach, Gert Bee/mann, Andrea Stitzel & Ute Traiser... 27 1 Introduction................... 29 1.1 Youth unemployment and social exclusion... 29 1.2 Youth unemployment and health... 32 2 Qualitative method... 33 2.1 Methodological background... 33 2.2 Description of the sample... 34 2.3 Data collection..... 37 2.4 Data analysis...;... 39 2.4.1 The process of generating a typology... 42 3 3.1 3.1.1 3.1.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.3 3.1.4 3.1.5 3.1.6 3.1.7 Comparison of results... Social exclusion... 43 43 Labour market exclusion...................................................................... 44 Submerged economy... 45 Economic exclusion... 47 Institutional exclusion... 48 Exclusion through social isolation... 49 Cultural exclusion... 50 Spatial exclusion... 51 Summary... 52

6 Contents 3.2 Comparison of typology... 53 3.2.1 Persons at high risk of social exclusion... 54 3.2.2 Persons at increased risk of social exclusion... 58 3.2.3 Persons at low risk of social exclusion... 61 3.2.4 Concluding remarks... 63 3.3 Victimisation... 65 3.3.1 Primary victimisation... 66 3.3.2 Secondary victimisation... 66 3.3.3 Tertiary victimisation... 67 3.4 Health effects/situation among the three risk groups...... 68 3.4.1 Persons at high risk of social exclusion... 68 3.4.2 Persons at increased risk of social exclusion... 70 3.4.3 Persons at low risk of social exclusion - 71 4 Conclusions...... 73 National Reports young people in Sweden Ulla Rantakeisu, Erik Forsberg, Marina Kalander-Blomqvist, Ulla-Britta Lofgren, Marianne Johansson & Bengt Starrin... 77 young people in Belgium Tine Willems, Wouter Vanderplasschen & Kees van Heeringen... 139 young people in Germany Thomas Kieselbach, Gert Beelmann, Ute Traiser & Ronald Meyer... 183 young people in Greece Katerina Sokou, Demetra Bayetakou & Valentine Papantoniou... 243 young people in Italy Vando Borghi, Federico Chicchi & Michele La Rosa... 319 young people in Spain Josep Espluga, Josep Baltierrez & Louis Lemkow... 393 References................................................................................................................. 451 Annex 1: Interview Schedule...... 459 Annex II: Personal Data............................................................................................ 468 About the authors... 470

Contents 7 The National Reports are- with slight differences- structured as follows: 1 1.l l.2 2 2.1 2.2 Introduction Current socio-political context regarding youth unemployment Specific regional situation for young unemployed people Sample Access to the sample Sample description 3 3.1 3.1.1 3.1.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.3 3.1.4 3.1.5 3.1.5.1 3.1.6 3.2 3.2.1 3.2.2 3.2.3 3.2.4 3.3 3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 3.4 3.4.1 3.4.1.1 3.4.1.2 3.4.1.3 3.4.1.4 3.4.1.5 3.4.2 3.4.2.1 3.4.2.2 3.4.3 3.4.3.1 3.4.3.2 3.4.3.3 3.4.4 Description of results Social exclusion Labour market exclusion Submerged economy Economic exclusion Institutional exclusion Exclusion through social isolation Cultural exclusion Deviant behaviour Spatial exclusion Description of typology Persons at high risk of social exclusion Persons at increased risk of social exclusion Persons at low risk of social exclusion Concluding remarks Victimisation Primary victimisation Secondary victimisation Tertiary victimisation Health effects/situation among the three risk groups Persons at high risk of social exclusion Psychosocial strain Health behaviour Self-esteem Work orientation Suicidal ideation/behaviour Persons at increased risk of social exclusion Description of health situation Protective factors Persons at low risk of social exclusion Description of health situation Protective factors Activating resources Summary 4 5 Prototypical cases of young unemployed persons Conclusions

8 Contents Tables Table ES-1: Key factors of social exclusion in six European countries... 22 Table CR-1: Regional sample selection within the countries participating in the project.......... 35 Table CR-2.1: Gender in respective national study population distributed by Table CR-2.2: Table CR-3: Table CR-4: Table CR-5: Table CR-6: Table CR-7: Table CR-8: Table CR-9: Table S-1: Table S-2: Table S-3: region.... Qualification level in respective national study population distributed by region.... Distribution' of study population by type of social exclusion.... Socio-demographic data for the group "high risk of social exclusion".... Exclusion dimensions for the group "high risk of social exclusion".... Socio-demographic data for the group "increased risk of social exclusion".... Exclusion dimensions for the group "increased risk of social exclusion".... Socio-demographic data for the group "low risk of social exclusion".... Exclusion dimensions for the group "low risk of social exclusion".... Study group and unemployed young people in Sweden arranged by gender and educational level.... Sample distribution according to types of social exclusion..... Breakdown of the number in each risk group reporting complaints of ill-health.... 36 36 53 55 56 58 59 61 62 84 94 123 Table B-1: Table B-2: Table B-3: Table B-4: Table B-5: Table B-6: Table B-7: Table B-8: Table B-9: Table B-10: Average unemployment rate of total population in Flanders according to age for the period 1994-1998..... Average unemployment rate of total population (1998) according to age, region, and gender..... Average unemployment rate of total population ( 1998) according to province, city, and gender.... Distribution of qualification level in general population, by study region (Gent/Kortrijk- Roeselare between 20-25 years, more than one year unemployed).... Distribution of qualification level among participating subjects..... Distribution of qualification levels in general population and in study sample (Kortrijk!Roeselare region), by gender.... Distribution of qualification levels in general population and in study sample (Gent region), by gender.... Sample distribution according to types of social exclusion..... Social exclusion across dimensions in the high risk group, by gender.... Social exclusion across dimensions in the increased risk group, by gender.... 141 142 145 146 147 147 147 154 154 158

Contents 9 Table B-11: Proportions of unemployed young people suffering from primary victimisation, by gender and level of education (overall sample).... 163 Table B-12: Proportion of unemployed young people suffering from secondary victimisation, by gender and level of education (overall sample) 163 Table B-13: Proportion of unemployed young people suffering from tertiary victimisation, by gender and level of education (overall sample) 164 Table B-14: Health situation of young people at increased risk of social exclusion (overall sample)................. 169 Table GER-1: Sample description... 190 Table GER-2: Comparison between sample and total population regarding gender and qualification in western and eastern Germany... 190 Table GER-3: Sample distribution according to types of social exclusion... 199 Table GER-4: Frequency of dimensions in the high risk group of social exclusion... 200 Table GER-5: Frequency of dimensions in the increased risk group of social exclusion......... 204 Table GER-6: Frequency of dimensions in the low risk group of social exclusion... 207 Table GER-7: Frequency of dimensions of social exclusion for the different risk groups... 211 Table GER-8: Vulnerability factors for the different risk groups... 211 Table GER-9: Protective factors for the different risk groups... 212 Table GER-10: Key mechanisms of social exclusion/inclusion... 212 Table GR-1: Table GR-2: Table GR-3: Table GR-4: Table GR-5: Table GR-6: Table GR-7: Table GR-8: Table GR-9: Table GR-10: Table GR-11: Youth unemployment rate by age and sex, 1997.............................. 24 7 Unemployment rate by gender in Greece, and in the peripheries of Attiki, Eastern Sterea Ellada, and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, 1990-1997... 252 Unemployment rate by educational level in Greece, and in the peripheries of Attiki, Eastern Sterea Ellada, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, 1997... 252 Greek sample group distribution according to place of residence.... 253 Greek sample group: gender and qualification level compared to the national qualification level of young unemployed in 1994..... 254 Greek sample group: distribution by gender and length of unemployment...,... 255 Greek sample group distribution by place of residence and type of previous work experience............................................................. 263 Major urban sample: type of work experience by gender in the Greater Athens Area......................................................................... 263 Provincial urban, semi-urban and rural sample: type of work experience by gender in Thiva and Drama........ 263 Greek sample group: gender distribution by high, increased and low risk of social exclusion............ 278 Greek major urban sample: gender distribution by high, increased and low risk of social exclusion...... 278

10 Table GR-12: Table GR-13: Table GR-14: Table GR-15: Table GR-16: Table GR-17: Table GR-18: Table 1-1: Table 1-2: Table 1-3: Table 1-4: Table I-4a: Table 1-5: Table 1-6: Tablel-7: Table 1-8: Table 1-9: Table 1-10: Table 1-11: Table 1-12: Table 1-13: Table 1-14: Contents Greek provincial urban, semi-urban and rural sample: gender distribution by high, increased and low risk of social exclusion 278 Persons at high risk of social exclusion by gender, qualification level, place of residence, length of unemployment and type of previous work experience... 279 Persons at increased risk of social exclusion by gender, qualification level, place of residence, length of unemployment and type of previous work experience...... 284 Persons at low risk of social exclusion by gender, qualification level, place of residence, length of unemployment and type of previous work experience...... 286 Greek sample group: typology of the three types at risk of social exclusion and their characteristic dimensions... 291 Greek sample group: key mechanisms of young unemployed persons facing high, increased and low risk of social exclusion... 292 Greek sample: personality characteristics and state of mental/physical health in young unemployed persons facing high, increased and low risk of social exclusion... 307 Youth unemployment figures in Italy... 321 Youth unemployment rates (15-24 years) from 1994 to 1999... 322 Rates of youth unemployment (15-24 years) for men and for women in different macro-regions in 1998... 322 Young people (15-24 years) looking for work, according to gender, educational qualifications, and geographical areaaverages for 1997 (in thousands)... 323 Average no. of months young people (15-24 years) spent looking for a job, according to educational qualifications, gender, and geographical area- averages for 1997... 323 Young people in the 15-24 age group in search of their first job, classified by gender, region, and employment status- averages for 1998 (in thousands)... 324 Young people (15-29 years) looking for work in Emilia-Romagna in 1998, according to their educational qualifications... 325 Young people (15-29 years) looking for work in Campania in 1998, according to their educational qualifications... 325 Youth employment and unemployment rates (15-24 years) subdivided in terms of gender, region and province - averages for 1998... 326 Long-term unemployed (15-24 years) as a percentage of total unemployed (15-24 years) according to geographical area... 327 Educational qualification of the research sample... 328 Regular and irregular positions of employment 1996... 341 Irregular employment by categories... 343 Forms of irregular employment... 343 Percentage of irregular employed workers per sector and geographical area in 1994... 344

Contents Table I-15: Table I-16: Table I-17: Table I-18: Table I-19: Table I-20: Table SP-1: Table SP-2: Table SP-3: Table SP-4: Table SP-5: Table SP-6: Table SP-7: Table SP-8: Table SP-9: Table SP-10: Table SP-11: Table SP-12: Table SP-13: Table SP-14: Irregular labour units as a percentage of the total, per region and per productive sector in 1991... 344 Basic categories of irregular employment... 347 Sample distribution according to types of social exclusion... 370 Young unemployed at high risk of social exclusion......... 371 Young unemployed at increased risk of social exclusion... 374 Young unemployed at low risk of social exclusion... 376 Youth unemployment rates by age (1970-1998)... 396 Sample description........ 400 Unemployed 20-24 years of age, more than one year unemployed, by sex, level of qualifications and geographical area....................... 400 Unemployed 20-24 years of age, more than one year unemployed, by sex, level of qualifications and geographical area... 401 Ideal composition of the sample, according to distribution by sex, level of qualifications and geographical area................................... 401 Composition of the real sample........................................................ 401 Index of irregularity (submerged economy) by sector of activity... 405 Sample distribution according to types of social exclusion... 416 Frequency of dimensions in the high risk group of social exclusion... 416 Frequency of dimensions in the increased risk group of social exclusion...... 420 Frequency of dimensions in the low risk group of social exclusion... 424 Dimensions of social exclusion for the different risk groups... 430 Vulnerability factors for the different risk groups... 431 Protective factors for the different risk groups... 431 11 Figures Figure CR-1: The exclusion-inclusion paradigm... 30 Figure CR-2: Example of a case chart of German interviewee at high risk of social exclusion... 41 Figure CR-3: Comparison of types of social exclusion... 54 Figure S-1: Empirical level (typology) and conceptual level of social inclusion and exclusion... 93