More than 5.5 million young Europeans are currently looking for a job. A pilot project to help young people find a job in another EU country has been launched by the European Commission on 21 May 2012. In its initial phase 'Your first EURES job' will aim to improve cross-border mobility for 5,000 people. It will also serve as a testing ground for transforming EURES - the network of Member States' employment services - towards a pan-European employment service.

Under the 'first EURES job' scheme, four selected employment services from Germany, Spain, Denmark and Italy will help young people look for work in Member States other than their own. As part of the scheme, young EU nationals between the ages of 18-30 will be provided with information and help for their recruitment, as well as the possibility of financial support for their application or training. Small and medium businesses may apply for financial support to cover part of the cost of training newly-recruited workers and helping them settle in.

The European Vacancy Monitor and the European Job Mobility Bulletin - both published on 21 May 2012, also contribute to matching jobs and jobseekers across borders. The European Vacancy Monitor provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments on the European job market and shows trends in occupational demand. The Job Mobility Bulletin analyses vacancies posted on the EURES jobs portal and highlights where the best employment opportunities are. Currently it shows the jobs most in demand in the EU are sales people, finance professionals and housekeeping and restaurant services workers.

More information: http://ec.europa.eu/social/yourfirsteuresjob