Long Term Unemployed Youth in Switzerland: Coping with Exclusion from the Labor Market in a Country with Low Unemployment
This chapter examines the effects of long term unemployment for youth social inclusion and personal well being in Switzerland. Studying such effects in a context of low unemployment contributes to understanding how unemployment negatively affects everyday life and, in particular, how it hinders personal well being and self confidence. In such a context, being unemployed is more stigmatizing as the individuals confronted with unemployment tend to blame themselves and have to face more prejudices against them. Thus, unemployed youth suffer from a loss of personal well being that might be stronger than in contexts characterized by higher levels of unemployment. We stress in particular the role of the social support provided by family members, friends, and partners in mitigating the effects of unemployment.