The social reproduction of youth labour market inequalities: the effects of gender, households and ethnicity

Unemployment affects different groups of young people unequally. Using the concept of social reproduction, discussed by Humphries and Rubery, we examine youth employment trajectories in Europe. We draw attention to the effects of gender, ethnicity and parental households on new contours of segmentation. Where gender disparities have decreased is due, not only to girls improved educational performance, but also to a decline in men’s labour market and educational outcomes, alongside increased overall precariousness for all young people. Educational attainment clearly makes a bigger difference for some non-white ethnic groups than appears to be the case for White British boys. All young people from disadvantaged work-poor families face difficult labour market entry; but the effects can be mitigated, or exacerbated, by gender and ethnicity. Policy interventions need to be more clearly targeted on the outcomes for new vulnerable groups that this analysis identifies.