Objective
Research objectives and content
Significant structural changes have occurred in the EU labour market since the 1970s: substantial decline in unskilled and semi-skilled manual occupations, and significant educational upgrading of the labour force. These changes have had repercussions for youth: dramatic increase in youth unemployment, and growing competition for declining, number of manual occupations. Thus, the importance of 'formal qualifications' in the labour market has increased, leading commentators to argue that 'credential inflation has occurred. To date, few labour market studies engage in substantive comparative analysis. This study will address this absence, by examining structural changes which have occurred in the Irish and British labour markets; the extent to which upskilling/deskilling and credential inflation has occurred, and implications for the youth labour market. It will also examine employers' requirements, thus addressing both macro and micro changes which have occurred in two very different labour markets Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact)
This study will contribute to a broader understanding of the youth labour market within a comparative framework, thus benefiting EU
education/training/labour market policies by highlighting
similarities/differences amongst member states.
Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)
This study is relevant to the future needs of industry. It encompasses within the research process, an investigation of employers' use and views of skills/ qualifications and their future manpower requirements.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships)Coordinator
CV4 7AL Coventry
United Kingdom