Coalition for Social Studies in Rural and Agricultural Youth in Europe: Youth Employment

ongoing

The conditions of daily life in rural regions are rather unfavourable, due to limited economic productivity, poor career prospects and worsening infrastructure provision (e.g., public services). This has led to an increasing number of rural inhabitants leaving the countryside. In particular, young, well-educated individuals have turned their backs on rural regions. The consequence is a shortage of labour and skilled workers, which further deteriorates the economic prospects of these areas. In the other side, innovative initiatives in rural areas, carried out by young rural people, social entrepreneurs, or both in collaboration, abound across Europe. Social innovation can be credited with the potential to address the various challenges of our society. For some time now, policy makers have also been pinning their hopes on social innovation. However, the conditions under which this social innovation emerges in rural areas still need to be improved, its potential needs to be supported and strategies should be developed that can be used to help it. CORE - Coalition for Social Studies in Rural and Agricultural Youth in Europe: Youth Employment, was created with the aim of constituting a partnership between rural and agricultural youth organisations, research institutes, and the private sector to address the critical issue of youth employment in these fields, and to serve as a blueprint for the establishment of a European think tank specialised in social studies related to agriculture and rural areas.