Introduction

Abstract

Unemployment has been one of Europe’s long-standing problems. Since the early 1990s, in a growing number of countries employment rates have been decreasing while unemployment rates have been increasing (cf. Symes 1995; Esping-Ander sen 2000; Gallie and Paugam 2000; Bermeo 2001; Giugni 2010). Structural unemployment is a central element of the unemployment problem of Europe. In addition, unemployment affects almost a fourth of the youth labour force, compounding the social problems associated with unemployment. Moreover, labour markets are characterized by significant inequalities between highly skilled and low-skilled workers and between men and women (cf. Sapir 2006; Esping-Andersen 1990; 2002; 2009).