According to data published by Eurostat on January 8, the youth unemployment rate (under 25s) in november 2009 had increased to 21% in the Eurozone and 21.4% in the European Union from 16.6% in both zones in November 2008.

Comparatively, the Euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.0% in November 2009, compared with with 9.4% in October and 8% in November 2008, whereas the figures for the EU27 rate were 9.5% in November 2009, compared with 7.5% in November 2008. For both, this is the highest unemployment rates have reached in ten years - since August 1998 for the Euro area more precisely.

The European Youth Forum works towards the increase of employment opportunities and decent working conditions for young Europeans. It recently published a position paper, in which it highlighted the importance of a renewed and updated European Youth Pact within the framework of the post-Lisbon Strategy.