Half of Antwerp immigrant youths jobless 08/02/2006 00:00

8 February 2006

BRUSSELS — In several Antwerp city districts, unemployment among non-European immigrant youths is almost 50 percent

The city districts have been identified by weekly newspaper 'Knack' as Antwerp North, Luchtbal and Linkeroever, where many immigrants live.

However, unemployment levels of immigrant youths are high across much of the Flemish region.

The biggest problems are reported in the largest cities, Flemish public broadcaster VRT reported on Wednesday.

Most of the unemployed youths are low-educated and aged 26 or under.
 
A spokeswoman for the Flemish employment bureau VDAB, Nancy Vercammen, said poor Dutch-language skills and a lack of education are to blame.

"It is thus not only about discrimination or people who don't want to work," she said.

The immigrant unemployment rate has risen sharply in recent years. In 1999, just 11 percent of immigrants were out of work compared with 17 percent now.

"That is a strong increase," Vercammen said.

[Copyright Expatica News 2006]

Subject: Belgian news