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young people are the first victims of the coronavirus crisis

Fear confirmed: young people are indeed the first victims of the “Covid-19” crisis on the labor market. The three regional bodies in charge of employment have just published their figures for the month of July. In Wallonia and Brussels, unemployment among those under 25 has jumped sharply in one year.

+ 10% in Wallonia, + 17% in Brussels compared to July 2019. Whilein the Brussels Region unemployment has not yet increased overall – it has been completely stable since last year (-0.1%), among those under 25 it has increased by 16.8%, to be precise.

Young people affected more quickly

In addition to the age categories, the number of young people registered as job seekers for the first time, the “waiting period” category has increased even more rapidly: in one year, almost 30% more in Wallonia, and almost 50% more in Brussels. Yes, the young Walloons and Brussels are well the first victims on the labor market, of the economic consequences of the pandemic.

Exposed sectors and precarious contracts

For economist Philippe Defeyt, that the youngest are chronologically the first category for which unemployment is increasing, is not a surprise: Young people will particularly suffer during this crisis. Because they are more likely to lose their jobs – they work more often in exposed sectors such as the hotel and catering industry, and they more often have permanent contracts – contracts that are easier to terminate than permanent contracts.

End of studies without opportunities

“And in addition, the labor market being bad for the moment, young people will have more difficulty or even more difficulty than before to find a job”, July being a period of end of studies – synonymous with many new job seekers who finish their training course, in a context of clear decline in employment opportunities.

For the moment it is very clear, it is the young people who are taking the brunt of the crisis

The increase in unemployment is now less marked for the other age groups. Because temporary unemployment, used on a massive scale, and the extended footbridge right for the self-employed, limit damage. And when there are job losses, the dismissal procedures, sometimes long, or the dismissal notices sometimes provided, generate “delay effects”, in a way – of several weeks.

The other age categories will follow

But in the coming months other categories of the population will undoubtedly come to swell the ranks of unemployment. “For the moment it is very clear, it is the young people who are taking the brunt of the crisis”, continues Philippe Defeyt, “But we must be aware that the bulk of the crisis is only going to manifest itself in the coming weeks. We are only at the start of the crisis. A number of people, probably older and who are for the moment temporarily unemployed, could still lose their job “.

This does not detract from the observation, for the economist: “It is clear that the situation of young people is not likely to improve in the coming months. It could even worsen a little”. And for most young job seekers, the period of hardship has only just begun, according to Jan Gatz, spokesperson for Actiris.

Fewer internships, training and jobs

“In the months to come, those who come to register for the first will have fewer opportunities than the young people of last year. Fewer chances, fewer internships, fewer training opportunities, and fewer jobs. These young people will compete with other job seekers who have already worked and already have experience“.

This risk of unfavorable competition in the labor market is not the same for all young people. It is especially present among the less qualified.

The generalization is certainly a little crude but those who hold a higher education diploma should, a priori, have less difficulty finding a job in the coming months.

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