#YouthUp Europe: debate on future of work

What does the future of work look like for young people? This was the big question being discussed last week on 10th May in the European Youth Capital, Cascais, in Portugal.

The debate entitled “The future of work: towards safeguarding young people's rights in the era of increased digitisation" was a part of series of events aiming to #YouthUp the conversation happening around the future of Europe.

Digitisation is already having both positive and negative effects on our economies and societies. New platforms, and with them new forms of jobs, are created at a faster pace than regulation, and much of the digital sector remains unregulated. Young people are a vulnerable group in today’s shifting labour market and discussions in Cascais also tackled questions around what reforms are needed to ensure young people's needs are met and their rights upheld.

2018 is a significant year for the debate on the future of Europe, as the countdown has begun until the next European elections in 2019 and future priorities and EU programmes are already being shaped. Now more than ever it is crucial that young generations are included and engaged in these discussions that will directly impact their lives. The European Youth Capital is one such initiative that fosters and creates spaces for young people from local level to contribute to European wide debate. Ahead of the panel debate itself, young people were also encouraged to join an informal lunch to kick off topical discussions covering citizenship, employment and smart cities.

The European Youth Forum is facilitating a number of different spaces throughout the year for exchange between youth organisations and activists, leading scholars and experts, and European and national politicians, on key priority issues. On this occasion, the European Youth Forum was pleased to partner with Bruegel, a leading economic think tank in Brussels, and Cascais European Youth Capital 2018.