Overview of youth in Estonia

Helen KeremeChief Expert of Special Youth Work

Estonian Youth Work Centre

• Is a national coordinating youth work centre

• Started its activities in August 1999

• EYWC works under the authority of the Estonian Ministry of

Education and Research

• Is financed by the state budget

Areas of youth work

Special youth work Youth hobby education and hobby activities Youth information Youth counselling Youth research Youth work training Recreational activities of youth Work education of youth International youth work Youth participation

Youth Monitor

• EYWC has monitored young people situation since 2009.

• It has been published for the purpose of introducing and developing a knowledge based youth policy.

• At the request of the EWYC, Praxis Centre for Policy Studies is continuing the development and implementation of a comprehensive monitoring system.

• The project is supported via the state programme “Development of the Quality of Youth Work” initiated by the Youth Department of the Ministry of Education and Research and carried out by the EYWC.

Young person

A young person isa person betweenthe age 7 and 26 (Youth Work Act)

Youth situation in Estonia:total youth population Estonia is facing different demographic changes (an ageing population, low birth rate,

changing family structures, migration) The population of Estonia is 1 339 662 (01.01.2012) The number of young people in Estonia is 314 173, 23% (01.01.2012)

Emigration % (2010) (having lived permanently in one country suspends permanent residence in the respective county for a period which is or which is expected to be of at least 12 months.)

• Previous years, more and more youngsters have gone to work abroad, so this rate has increased quite significantly during the last 6 years, after Estonia joined the EU.

• Also the immigration of young people has decreased, partly due to the economical instability.

Emigration (2)

• The process is often seen as an emigration of university educated people, for instance departure of doctors, although most emigrants are people with secondary education.

• Most emigrants from Estonia are women, because men return home more often after some time abroad.

• The main target countries are Finland, Russia, Germany, the USA, Sweden, Great Britain and Ukraine.

Young people status in society

Inactivity among young people (15-26 years old) and its reasons

Labour force participation rate of young people

Unempoyment rate among youngsters•The unemployment rate increased sharply in 2008, placing Estonia among other countries with the highest employment rate of young people in the whole Europe.•The main reason was the economic crisis, but also the fact that young people born during the baby boom so called “singing revolution” entered to the labour market.•The unemployment rate is highest among 15-19 years (45%).•Unemployment rate has decreased significantly among 20-24 years old.

Registered young (16-24 years old) unemployed persons (registered in Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund)

Previous work experience (2008)•Although the economy has gained strenght and overall labour market conditions have improved, younger workers have continued to struggle in finding job.Some reasons:•They are likely to have fever contacts and less experience in finding job.•They have less general work skills.•So they often find themselves in an experience trap, where employers select workers with more experience and therefore youngsters can`t improve their skills and increase their own experience.Very few youngsters between 15-24 have gained previous work experience!

Long-term unemployment rate among youth (%)

Although long-term unemployment rate has decreased, compared to 2008 it is still relatively high!

Long-term unemployment rate is higher among men. For example: before the economic crisis they managed to find job easily in the construction sector during the real estate boom, but due to their low level of education and lack of professional skills it is almost impossible to find a job.

Wage of young empolyees (€) (monthly gross income)

Average equalised yearly disposable (€) (Equalised disposable income is the total household income, which is divided by the sum of equivalence scales of all household members.)

•The average equalised yearly disposable decreased 2010 in all age groups.•The largest decline was among 25-29 years old, but as this age group had also the lowest unemployment rate and the highest income, this may be a temporary setback from economy crisis.•The lowest incomes are in 16-24 age group, where salary is below the pre-crisis level. One obvious reason for that is the high unemployment rate in 2009-2010.

At-risk-of-poverty rate among young people (0-26 years old)

•In 2010 17,5% of Estonian population lived in relative poverty. 2009 the at-risk-of-poverty rate was 15,8. (+1,7%)•In 2010 a person was considered to be at-risk-of-poverty if his/her monthly equalised disposable income was below 280 euros.•The % of younger people who are living in relative poverty is increasing, and % of persons aged 65+ decreasing.•In 2010 22% of persons aged 18-24 and 13% of persons aged 65+ lived in relative poverty.•The important reason is the age groups high unemployment rate and a more stable income in retirement ages compared with other age groups.

At-risk-of-poverty rate of households with three or more children By type of household, the at-risk-of-poverty rate has increased the most in households of a couple with three or more children.

The level of education significantly affects the remaining in risk of poverty. From persons with basic or lower education every third was in the poorest and only every sixteenth was in the richest income quintile. At the same time one third of people with higher education belonged to the richest 5th.

Therefore, the at-risk-poverty rate of persons with higher education (7,5%) was more than three times lower than of persons with basic or lower education (25,7%).

Number of dropouts of general education (13-17 years old) Source: Estonian Ministry of Education and ResearchDropping out of school are costly!Dropouts experience higher levels of unemployment and receive lower earnings.Dropouts are more likely to become dependent on welfare, engage in illegal activities, and experience health and affective problems.

Over the years dropout rates from the general education has decreased, but dropouts have become younger and younger over the years.Studies show that in previous years the average dropout rate from compulsory school was between 16,4-16,7 years. But in 2010 the average age was 15,5.

Factors associated with drop out in Estonia (1) Source: I. Pettai, I. Proos. 2010. EAÜI

• Has changed schools frequently• Is a victim of constant bullying in school• Experiences frequent conflicts (with teacher, parents, peers)• Is a provoker in the classroom• Experiences difficulties in learning (especially in mathematics and in

estonian or foreign languages)• Has a unbalanced temperament• Is raised by single or foster parent (50% living with her father and

81% with their mother. 16% are living with a stepfather and 5% with stepmother)

Factors associated with drop out in Estonia (2)

• Different problems at home (75% experience arguments and aggression within family, 15% of physical abuse, 42% of occasional binge-drinking at home)

• Different problems outside of home and school (smoking, alcohol consumption, exposure to the police)

• Multitude of problems (problems in learning, difficult relationships, victim of bullying, low self-esteem, etc)

• Parents don`t pay enough attention to their children, mainly because of the work overload, social non coping, denial of the problems of the young person, lack of social and parenting skills.

• Gender gap - Boys are at higher risk!

Causes of death among young people (number)The average life expectancy of Estonian people, especially men, is considerably shorter than in most EU countries.

Estonia is also characterised by large gap in average life expectancy between sexes. On the whole women (79) live 11 years longer that men (68).Such difference is mostly the result of high mortality level of young men, due to external causes of death (injury, poisoning, (road) accidents and also suicides.A large number of illnesses are mainly caused by insufficient physical exercise, smoking and drinking.

Alcohol consuming (%) (Source: National Institute for Health Development.)

Alcohol consuming (being drunk)

Before the age of 13 21% of girls and 35% of boys have been drunk (results of 15-years old students). This indicator is one the highest in Europe.

Chart . Young people who have been drunk during the last month

Smoking (%) (Source: National Institute for Health Development.)

Smoking cannabies (Source: National Institute for Health Development.)

Most popular offences by juveniles:

• alcohol abuse (35%)

• Possession and consumption of tobacco products (30%)

• the traffic violations (20%)

• theft (low value items), violation of public policy, failure to comply with the lawful order of a public authority (15%)

Most popular criminal offences among juveniles:

• theft

• physical abuse

• a serious breach of public order

Thank you!

Contact

More statistical information from:

www.noorteseire.ee/en Estonian Youth Work Centre

Tel +372 735 0399Fax +372 735 0300

Uuslinna 10, 11415 Tallinn, Estoniawww.entk.ee