The Youth and the Market

Press release
Sopot, 1 October 2015
The Youth and the Market
Intensive efforts aimed at improving employability of the youth not only bring
measurable profits, but also offer a number of experiences that are beneficial in the
process of planning subsequent initiatives — these are the conclusions from the panel
discussion 'The Youth and the Market. No Job, No Education, No Future? Facts and
Myths', organized at the European Forum for New Ideas.
According to Jacek Męcina, former Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy,
the so-called NEETs, i.e. young persons 'Not in Education, Employment, or Training', living in the
suburbs, often outside the formal economy, pose a big problem. It is them that special initiatives,
different from 'traditional' programmes for youth, should be addressed to. Voluntary Labour Corps
(OHP) may have a lot to offer here.
Besides, entrepreneurs must be involved at every stage whenever a programme is planned for the
youth — from the design of curricula to their implementation. Paweł Orłowski, Undersecretary of
State at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, noted that public funds, such as the ESF,
ought to support entrepreneurship. Jakub Gontarek, President of the Youth Forum Lewiatan, also
called for cooperation with business.
Departing from subsidies in favour of loans is also a positive trend. The loans are available at a low
interest rate, they have preferential forms of security and may be allocated for start-ups. 'However,
the system should be based on repayable funds because this is how a person internalizes the
business mindset,' said Radosław Stępień, Deputy President of the Management Board at Bank
Gospodarstwa Krajowego.
Anna Karaszewska, President of the Management Board of Ingeus, pointed out that the youth
entering the labour market cannot be referred to as one group. There is great variety among these
young people, and this means that various approaches are necessary depending on the level of
their recruitment needs.
Agnieszka Wąsak, HR Director at Nestle Polska, presented the programme implemented by the
company, and intended to create 100 thousand jobs for young people.
The panel discussion was moderated by Adam Czerniak, Chief Economist, Polityka Insight.
Polityka Insight, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, and the Ministry of Labour and
Social Policy were the partners of the event.
***
THE EUROPEAN FORUM FOR NEW IDEAS is an international business congress attended by prominent representatives
of politics, culture, science, and media. It has been organised since 2011 by the Polish Confederation Lewiatan in
cooperation with BUSINESSEUROPE, the city of Sopot, and Polish and foreign companies and organizations. The Forum is
aimed at creating ideas for a strong Europe and a competitive economy, a Europe open to trends of social growth and
technology. This year's EFNI will be held on 30 September – 2 October 2015 in Sopot, and its theme is: Europe and the
World in the Face of Growing Inequality, Radicalism, and Geopolitical Threats
More information: www.efni.pl
Honorary patronage
Institutional partners
Strategic partners
Opening Gala partner
Main partners
Supporting partners
Knowledge partners
Logistics partner
Official carrier
Executive Producer
President of the Republic of Poland, European Parliament
Polish Industrial Development Agency S.A., European Commission, National Centre
for Research and Development
MetLife, PKN ORLEN, PZU, Totalizator Sportowy, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, Grupa
Onet.pl, TVP SA
Bank Pekao S.A.
Biznes.pl, BMW, Citi Handlowy, Discovery NETWORKS CEEMEA, Forbes, France 24,
Intel, Microsoft, Newsweek, Orange Polska, Parkiet, PKP S.A., Silvermedia
AMS, Bloomberg Businessweek Polska, Gazeta Wyborcza, Havas Worldwide,
Liberté!, McCANN Worldgroup, PAP Polish Press Agency, PGNiG SA, Polish
Association of Employers in Mining Industry, Pomeranian Special Economic Zone,
Puls Biznesu, Starcom MediaVest Group, Polish Association of Employers in
Transport and Logistics, Warsaw Business Journal Observer, Association of Private
Employers in Energy Industry, Digital Technology Employers Lewiatan
Ashoka, Aspen Institute Prague, Centre for International Relations, demosEUROPA
– Centre for European Strategy, ECFR, Institute of Public Affairs, POLITYKA
INSIGHT, Res Publica Nowa, THINKTANK, Global Compact in Poland – an Initiative
of the UN Secretary General, World Academy of Art and Science
Lech Wałęsa Airport in Gdańsk
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Zbigniew Maciąg, [email protected], phone number: +48 604 589 080