A comparison across Europe found Spain to have the highest percentage of young people out of work, with 47.1% in search of employment. Meanwhile the lowest rate of unemployment was found in Austria - 7.3% - narrowly beating the German rate of 8.5 per cent.
The report went on to suggest that the relatively low unemployment rates in Austria and Germany might be explained by the implementation of apprenticeship schemes in both countries. Young people are offered work-based training in programmes funded by the government and businesses.
In Britain, further statistics collected suggest those individuals leaving university with a degree are initially finding it as difficult to secure employment as 16-year-olds who left school with 2only a GCSE qualification."
However, the figures also indicate that people with a degree are far more likely to secure employment as they get older. For university leavers unemployment stands at just 5% by the age of 24, whereas for school leavers with only a single GCSE the percentage remains over twice that by the same age.
Interestingly, the findings suggest little difference in employability between individuals with one A-level or a degree. Whilst unemployment rates amongst graduates decrease more significantly with each year after completing education, by the age of 24 the difference in unemployment is a mere 2%.
Yet the report fails to cover the difference in average wage between the three groups. Whilst the difference in unemployment rates decreases with time, graduates continue to earn more on average than their contemporaries with either a GCSE or A-level.
