Individual-level and family background determinants of young adults’ unemployment in Europe

The aim of this study is to explore individual-level and family background determinants of young adults’ unemployment. Compared to previous studies, we focus on extended adulthood by including a broader age range in the sample of young adults (18–35 years), and on less explored individual predictors. A harmonized data set, based on representative cross-sectional national surveys conducted in 2016 in eleven European countries, was used to analyze individual level predictors of young adults’ unemployment. For young economically active individuals (N = 14,602), we estimated logistic regressions with the dependent variable representing odds of being unemployed. The findings suggest that besides age, gender, education, migration and ethnic backgrounds, caring responsibilities or unemployment experience, there are other important predictors of young adults’ unemployment such as religious affiliation, risk taking and parental unemployment experience. Obtained estimates are robust and can be thus more likely generalized in comparison with previous findings. Policy-makers and labor market offices should better address those groups of young adults most endangered by unemployment such as younger individuals, women, ethnic minorities, risk averse young adults or those with parental unemployment history through more effective, inclusive and tailored education and labor market policies as well as specific counselling support services for career orientation and development.