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This paper discusses employment and work related issues faced by young people leaving public care, a category of youth at risk for unemployment. However, work is their only means to survive independently after leaving the institution. The first section presents findings on care leavers outcomes, work trajectories and challenges after leaving care. A mixed method study was carried out involving 34 young people and 32 professionals from the statutory and voluntary sector. Findings show that care leavers are poorly equipped for the labour market because of low level qualifications and skills for job insertion. These result in increased unemployment, job instability, exploitation and marginalisation. The second section reports on a range of programs for young people leaving care developed within SCUT Association of Social Services to support social insertion and the welfare of this category of youth. Recommendations for policy and practice to increase care leavers job insertion are made.
Keywords: young people leaving care, employment, skills development, counselling programs
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