Learning for Careers: What Career Guidance and Education Services Do Young People Want in Europe and Central Asia?
Today’s labour markets are undergoing historic disruptions due to automation, digital transformations, and post-COVID-19 recovery. This has increased risks of joblessness, uncertainty, and precarious employment, particularly for young people. Transitioning from school to work is now more critical than ever, as rapid changes in the labour market make decisions about education and career paths increasingly complex.
Career guidance plays a vital role in helping individuals, especially young people, navigate these challenges. It empowers them to make informed choices about their futures, supporting economies in recovery and fostering resilience.
In response, UNICEF and the European Training Foundation (ETF) conducted research across 11 countries in Europe and Central Asia, engaging over 9,600 adolescents. This study highlights the need for career guidance to be more individualized, accessible, and responsive to young people’s realities, including practical skills, labour market insights, and self-discovery.
The report also stresses the importance of systemic career guidance, supported by adequate funding, lifelong learning, and partnerships with education, employment services, and companies. For young people in Ukraine, in particular, quality online career guidance remains essential amid ongoing challenges.
Building effective career guidance systems requires ensuring access for all, improving service quality, and expanding the scope to include entrepreneurship, labour rights, and gender inclusivity. Career guidance can empower young people to shape their futures and drive positive change for generations to come.
