Book Description

This synthesis report provides information to policy makers, practitioners, and researchers on the new strategies and measures adopted in Belgium, Denmark, and the United Kingdom to combat long-term unemployment. It begins with a summary of strategies and measures adopted in each of the three countries. Each country report highlights the following aspects: scope and characteristics of the unemployment problem; institutional structures at national, regional, and local levels; strategies used to combat long-term unemployment, including programs and pedagogical methods in education, training, and vocational guidance; financing mechanisms; and new forms of cooperation among training organizations and among decision makers in the implementation of new strategies. As far as possible, each report includes results from the programs, although a number of them are still in progress. The second part of the document is a comparative table of key issues, including the following: unemployment rate; evolution of long-term unemployment; duration of unemployment benefit; level of unemployment benefit; government spending on labor market policies; vocational guidance; specific training initiatives; supportive actions for individuals; financing mechanisms; and collaboration types. A final section of observations and comments focuses on general and specific features. (YLB)