Supporting Disadvantaged Young People into Work: Insights from the Capability Approach

Egdell, Valerie and McQuaid, Ronald (2016) Supporting Disadvantaged Young People into Work: Insights from the Capability Approach. Social Policy & Administration, 50 (1). pp. 1-18. ISSN 0144-5596

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Abstract

The Capability Approach (CA) offers a perspective on the employment activation of young people that is concerned with their freedom to make choices that they value rather than focusing solely on outcomes, such as having to take any job. It incorporates empowerment and the individual and external conversion factors that influence the conversion of resources into functionings for young people, such as getting a job that they value. This article considers the implications of using the CA as a lens for analyzing youth activation polices. A more capability informed approach to employment activation would not measure success solely by the transition into work, but rather by whether it has improved the young person's capabilities, and might focus, for example, on more sustainable and valued careers and develop individuals' freedom of choice in the labour market. Using data from two UK case studies of third sector organizations that support young people into work, it explores these issues empirically, including the extent to which these employment activation programmes, in their current form, can enhance the capabilities of beneficiaries. Conclusions on the implications of a CA for employment activation are made.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Youth unemployment, Capability, Approach, Activation policy, Adaptive preferences
Subjects:	L500 Social Work
Department:	Faculties > Business and Law > Newcastle Business School
Depositing User:	Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited:	06 Dec 2018 09:22
Last Modified:	19 Nov 2019 10:03
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/37102

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