Over 20,000 young adults to get jobs in Amsterdam plan

At least 21,000 Amsterdam youth should find a job or return to school, the municipality announced at the unveiling of a new employment initiative. The city plans to strengthen vocational education and improve the educators' links to the labour market. Amsterdam had a youth unemployment level of 13.3 percent in 2014, down from 14.8 percent a year earlier. Youth unemployment is still well above the national average of 11.1 percent, prompting the municipality and Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher to take various measures to combat the problem. The new cooperation between municipal services, educational institutions and businesses should allow unemployed young individuals with or without specific qualifications to attain employment or further education, the city said. The municipality is dedicating 28 million euros to facilitate this cooperation. Another 19 million will be spent on improving the quality of vocational education. The money will be invested in teacher grants, and scholarships for talented students. “Our goal is that every student with a vocational training finds a job”, a statement from the municipality said. Each student assisted under the new plan will receive job search guidance from a mentor, or help returning to higher education.