The Nordic Social Statistical Committee (NOSOSCO) is a permanent committee under the Nordic Council of Ministers. The aim of the Committee is partly to coordinate social statistics from the Nordic countries, partly to compare analyses and descriptions of the scopes and contents of social welfare measures.

The report Youth Unemployment in the Nordic Countries – A Study of the Rights of and Initiatives Aimed at Young Jobseekers is the theme report for 2011 published by NOSOSCO. The financial crisis in 2008 affected all the Nordic countries, and the youth unemployment rate quickly increased, especially in Iceland and Sweden. At its plenary session in August 2009, NOSOSCO therefore decided that the annual topic should be young jobseekers and their possibilities of getting a foothold in the labour market. By comparing the extent of the youth unemployment and the active initiatives that were taken after the financial crisis, it is possible to obtain new knowledge of the similarities and differences in labour and welfare policies concerning young people in the Nordic countries.

The report covers the following: Youth and the Labour Market; How is Youth Unemployment Characterized?; Youth and the Welfare System; Labour Market Policies Aimed at Young People.