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YouthWiki

EACEA National Policies Platform
Iceland

Iceland

3. Employment & Entrepreneurship

3.2 Administration and governance

Last update: 28 November 2023
On this page
  1. Governance
  2. Main actors
  3. Consultation of young people
  4. Policy monitoring and evaluation

Governance

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation is the main top-level governmental authority responsible for youth employment and entrepreneurship. National agencies such as the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health and the Directorate of Labour are also responsible for the well-being and status of young people in the labor market as described above.  The Administration of Safety and Health is responsible for the inspection of health and safety standards in the workplace and the Directorate of Labour is responsible for labor market initiatives that can benefit young people in search of employment.  

Non-public actors also play an important role in ensuring that the Icelandic labour market is favourable to young people seeking employment and entrepreneurship. Many young people are members of trade unions who are responsible for collective agreements on behalf of their members and look after their interests.  Icelandic Startups helps start-ups grow domestically and internationally by accelerating their businesses and connecting them with industry experts, investors and international start-up hubs. Icelandic Startups also promote entrepreneurs by helping them advance their network and develop their ideas. Furthermore, it hosts the Golden Egg competition which provides a platform for young entrepreneurs to get their ideas out there, and is a helpful venue for their development. Contestants are offered to attend courses and receive consultation and assistance from industry experts to develop their ideas and communicate with potential investors.

 

Cross-sectoral cooperation

There are no specific rules outlining cross-sectoral cooperation. Ministries often consult with other public and non-public bodies when it comes to policy-making.