Social Exclusion, Risk and the UK Youth Labour Market.

This chapter presents empirical evidence on the labour market experiences of marginalised youth in the UK, and thus the relevance of policies that rely on labour market participation to overcome social exclusion. It is based on research carried out using extensive qualitative data collection and analysis. The findings suggest that social exclusion of young people in local settings is reinforced by their reliance on local labour market structures, attendant incomes, and family sources and welfare agencies. The chapter first discusses the evolution of social exclusion policies in the UK, presenting the principles of current policies oriented towards tackling social exclusion via labour market participation. Secondly, it explicates the experiences of young socially excluded people in fragmented labour markets and trapped in the low income cycle. In addition, the chapter shows how household income and family structures play a central role in shaping young people’s choices in the labour market. Furthermore, this part will discuss the relatively limited role of welfare agencies, contrasting it with the influence of informal networks. Finally, the chapter emphasises the implications of the findings, presenting the limits of individualised youth social policy