No single picture for Euro unemployment in 2023
Projections based on IMF figures reveal a nuanced picture for unemployment over coming months, with France’s expected level of 7.6% sitting in the middle of a wide European range.
Unemployment rates across Europe will continue to tell a different story from country to country according to recent projections – with low predicted rates in Germany (3.4%) and the UK (4.8%), contrasting with higher rates in Italy (9.4%) and Spain (12.3%). France’s expected 2023 level of unemployment – at 7.6% – sits firmly in the middle of this range.
Factors including fragile global growth, incrementally rising interest rates and persistent inflation – alongside structural changes in the jobs market – provide the backdrop to these expectations. Across the Atlantic in the US, meanwhile, unemployment is at its lowest for more than 50 years, at 3.4%.
Against this background, fuelled by demographic developments, the paper and printing industry itself, like many other economic sectors, continues to face a labour shortage and problems of recruitment across Europe, both in countries with higher and lower levels of unemployment. As a major report last year by Intergraf highlighted, these problems are particularly acute when it comes to recruiting young people:
“Not only in terms of numbers, but also in terms of a skilled, competent and adaptable workforce.”
That survey unearthed a lack of knowledge around print products, with potential employees assuming that print is all about books, newspapers and magazines – leaving packaging generally overlooked.
In terms of remedies, respondents saw training as key, with 59% advocating for technical high schools specific to printing. Establishing a link between company training programmes and career opportunities was also seen as important.
In terms of practical advice for businesses, the report offered these five tips for more successful recruitment of younger workers:
- Supply schools and career advisers with information about the industry and your company – show the full range of opportunities that print has to offer.
- Go to job fairs and bring along current employees so they can explain their work with conviction.
- Educate yourself on what younger generations want and expect from employers – values and culture play a big role today.
- Use social media not just to advertise jobs, but also to show what life is like at your company.
- Promote print’s connection to popular culture such as books, comics, board games, photos, art and home decoration.
