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1. Youth employment measures

2. Flexicurity measures focusing on young people

3. Reconciliation of private and working life for young people

4. Funding of existing schemes/initiatives

5. Quality assurance

Youth employment measures

Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan initiatives

The Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan outlines several measures aimed at improving the integration of young people into the labour market, including key initiatives. Some notable initiatives include the following: 

• the TandEM programme, which focuses on training combined with employment. This programme follows workshop schools model, but is applied public and social interest projects, targeting 16-29 year olds and emphasizing skills needed for the double transition (digital and green), as well as social inclusion and territorial cohesion.
• The First professional experience in public administrations programme is part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) and is funded by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU mechanism. It provides temporary employment opportunities within public administration for young people who have completed formal training, helping them acquire soft skills and gain work experience in areas such as digital transition, social services, and territorial cohesion. Although the programme remains active in 2025, the most recent calls for applications are currently closed.
• The Primera Experiencia Profesional (PEP) programme developed by the Pinardi Federation of Social Platforms offers a complementary model focused on young people in situations of social vulnerability. Since 2014, PEP has provided personalised guidance, skills training, and real work experience to support the labour market integration of youth facing structural barriers. Grounded in the Salesian pedagogical tradition, the programme promotes vocational development and personal empowerment. PEP aligns with the objectives of the Youth Guarantee and the Youth Strategy 2030 and has demonstrated positive outcomes in terms of job placement and educational re-engagement.
• The Investigo programme, which facilitates the recruitment of young researchers into public research organisations, universities, technology centres and other public and private entities. This programme is aimed at fostering youth engagement research and innovation projects, which are crucial for Spain's recovery and transformation.

These initiatives are aligned with the objectives of the 2030 Youth Strategy, which promotes a youth employment model based on sustainability, inclusion, and quality. The complementarity between the PRTR and the strategy allows for a coordinated response to the structural challenges of youth employment, especially in the post-pandemic context.

Youth Guarantee Plus 2021-2027 

The Youth Guarantee Plus 2021–2027 programme is part of Spain's broader efforts to tackle youth unemployment. It focuses on improving the qualifications of young people, helping them develop the skills needed to adapt to the evolving labour market. The programme is backed by EU funding and aims to provide personalized career guidance, training opportunities, and entrepreneurship support to young people, particularly those under 30 with low qualifications.

Promotion and Services to Youth Programme 

As part of the Strategic Grant Plan 2024–2026 (Plan Estratégico de Subvenciones 2024-2026 Ministerio de Juventud e Infancia), the Promotion and Services to Youth Programme (Programa Promoción y Servicios a la Juventud) is one of the key programmes supporting young people in their transition to the labour market. Through vocational training, career guidance, and entrepreneurship support, the programme helps youth gain the skills and resources necessary to secure stable and quality.

Universia: Youth Employment Platform

The Universia: Youth Employmenr Platform (Universia: Plataforma de Empleabilidad Juvenil) is a key resource by Santander Bank for young people looking to transition from education to the labour market. It offers a range of services including career guidance, job opportunities, and internships. Universia connects young people with companies through its platform, providing them with essential resources to improve their employability. In December 2024, Universia offered nearly 2,000 job and internship vacancies through its platform

Flexicurity measures focusing on young people

In the Action Plan 2022-2024 of the Youth Strategy 2030, the emphasis is on empowerment, decent employment and youth entrepreneurship. One of the core measures is to reverse the labour model, that has historically been based on the precariousness of employment. This new model prioritizes decent, stable and well-paid work, equal opportunities and work-life balance.

Reconciliation of private and working life for young people

The Youth Guarantee Plan plus 2021-2027, particularly under Axis 4: Equal Opportunities in Access to Employment, focuses on promoting gender equality and non-discrimination in the labour market. This includes Measure 52, which aims to implement Equality Plans in companies and to mainstream gender equality principles within the public employment services, particularly in career guidance services.

Funding of existing schemes/initiatives

The Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, provides significant funding for youth employment programmes, including for the “First Experiences”, “Investigo” and “TandEM” initiatives, with a total of €765 million allocated specifically for these schemes.

Spain's youth employment initiatives, including the Youth Guarantee Plus 2021–2027, European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), and the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), are supported by substantial funding aimed at reducing youth unemployment and improving employability. These funding sources - which are detailed earlier in this chapter in sub-chapters 3.2 and 3.6 - ensure the implementation of key programmes like training opportunities, career guidance services, and entrepreneurship support for young people.

Quality assurance

To ensure the successful implementation of the 2022-2024 Action Plan, a report will be drawn up on the fulfilment of the investment commitments made by the different ministries and indicators will be set to assess progress. This monitoring system is aligned with the principles of sound financial management, compliance with national and European legality, and the prevention of fraud, corruption, and conflict of interest.

The Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan has an independent quality control system, separate from European Structural Funds. This system ensures the reliability of milestones and targets, as well as the detection and correction of any irregularities related to fraud, corruption, or double funding. Additionally, Spain’s public administration control systems have been enhanced to ensure robust monitoring of EU financial interests.