Youth unemployment as a problem in European countries, and activities to be

undertaken towards its reduction are the themes tackled at Monday's public debate "To Save or Not to Save: Will Austerity Programs Alone Save Europe", organized by Skopje-based Faculty of Law "Justinian I" and the Austrian Economics Center within project "Free Market Road Show 2013".

"The youth unemployment problem is not a problem just of Macedonia, but also of the European Union. I cannot accept the statement it is difficult to find a job in Macedonia, but the problem is to make people  accept engagement. It is a fact that many citizens refuse and choose jobs. I am not saying everyone should be engaged into an improper job, but I expect increased activities among young people towards getting a better job", said Minister of Labor and Social Policy Spiro Ristovski in the panel dedicated to ways of reducing youth unemployment. According to him, the state should continue to invest efforts into creating more jobs."A joint approach in the problem's solution should be applied. The state and the private sector should offer appropriate jobs and the youth should be more active", added Ristovski.

He said numerous activities aimed at preventing the negative trend regarding youth unemployment have been implemented.

"The first Youth Employment Action Plan in Macedonia should improve efficiency of institutions on the labor market, improve the opportunities for employment of young people, urge youth employment through development of the private sector, as well as secure the inclusion of youth on the labor market. The Action Plan's implementation is ongoing, yielding expected results", stressed Minister Ristovski.

Employment Service Agency director Vlatko Popovski agreed that many of those unemployed, including youth, lacked ambition and self-initiative.

"A lot of young people are stiff in their requirements. They search for a job that fits their education profile, although they do not have the appropriate experience to demonstrate to employers", said Popovski.

According to Agency data, about 16 percent of the total number of unemployed individuals have university education, whereas 22 percent possess a high school diploma.