Opportunities for the inclusion of students in the labour market and entrepreneurship

In the modern world, sustainable social development changes the fundamental values of post-industrial society in the EU countries as well as in Lithuania, resulting in the change of the projection to the quality of life and work of the young people as a group of the society. Students represent one of the most vulnerable social groups. Their integration in the labour market is fast becoming perhaps the most acute economic – social – political problem of nowadays. The term ‘students’ used in the operating definition of this study characterises the students of higher schools (universities and colleges), studying in study programmes conferring a degree. It is universally recognised in scientific circles that employment and entrepreneurship are among the key factors influencing the changes in the economy of a country, however Lithuania lacks more comprehensive studies on inclusion of young people and students in particular in the labour market and entrepreneurship. Although Lithuania is making efforts to solve the issues pertaining to the employment of students thus dealing with their unemployment problems, insufficient attention is paid to theanalysis of strategic decisions. This reveals that this problem remains significant and relevant in the context of country-wide and society development due to its multifaceted and dynamic nature. Its resolution demands to search for answers to the following problem questions: how could the young people be included in the labour market? How should the youth entrepreneurship be promoted? In order to uncover the opportunities of Lithuanian students for the inclusion in the labour market and entrepreneurship, a qualitative study and content analysis of national documents regulating the youth policy and the development of opportunities as well as treaties, programmes and communications comprising the legal framework of the EU youth policy were carried out. In the employment and labour market policies of the European Union and Lithuania special focus is placed on the policy for the inclusion of youth in the labour market and youth employment, while acknowledging that the key objectives of all member states should be oriented to the opportunities for the use of the youth potential, facilitation of participation in the labour market and improvement of entrepreneurship skills, active involvement of the young people in social and public life, economic and social development of their entrepreneurial skills and the capacities for self-employment. The qualitative analysis of the national documents regulating the youth policy and the development of opportunities as well as treaties, programmes and communications comprising the legal framework of the EU youth policy showed that regardless of various projects and measures for the reduction of youth unemployment being pursued the problem associated with the inclusion of the students in the labour market and entrepreneurship remains on the sidelines. Consequently, based on the approach to the national economic development, the objective to enable the young people to successfully start their own businesses should be given priority seeing that a higher employment rate of this social group means lengthier period of economic activity of this generation and more rapid development of country’s economy. Opportunitiesforthe inclusion ofstudentsin the labour market (creation of favourable environment, enhancement of cooperation with social partners, volunteering and active labour market measures) and entrepreneurship (self-employment, education on youth entrepreneurship and support for start up and development of business for the young people) were identified based on the qualitative content analysis of documents