Developing Apprenticeships. Briefing Note

To reduce high unemployment among their young people, countries are looking to others for help. During the economic downturn, some countries have performed better and youth unemployment has remained relatively low, for example in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. This has been attributed in part to their apprenticeships or "dual'" systems and, consequently, interest in them has increased. Apprenticeships and other forms of work-based learning are seen as having particular advantages as a learning method. They can provide young people and adults with the job-specific and generic skills employers need and so help smooth transition from school or other learning to work. This brief reports discusses transitioning from learning to work and the advantages of apprenticeships.