Role of Apprenticeships in Combating Youth Unemployment in Europe and the United States

Many of the world's advanced economies continue to struggle with sluggish growth and high unemployment, especially among younger workers. One reason for high unemployment in countries such as Greece, Portugal, and Spain is a mismatch between the skills demanded by employers and those available among the population. This mismatch can be addressed in part through the implementation of apprenticeship programs. Boosting apprenticeships could give both European and US workers much-needed skills and a competitive edge. Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, three countries with low youth unemployment, offer valuable policy lessons in apprenticeship education.