Young, flexible, and entrepreneurial

Young, mobile, and entrepreneurial.

These are key findings from the TUI Foundation’s new Youth Study 2026, which surveyed more than 8,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 26 online in countries including Germany, France, Spain, and Italy.

When it comes to their own professional future, just over half of those surveyed plan to work in their home country in the near future. At the same time, 18% of young Europeans can also imagine working in another EU country. This figure is particularly high in Italy and Greece.

There is also strong interest in starting their own business, which 55% of the younger generation can envision doing. The willingness to start a business is highest in France, Greece, and Poland, while in Germany it stands at 51%. Respondents in Germany also cite high financial risks and a heavy workload as reasons against starting a business.

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• AI for All: Singapore is relying on subsidized AI courses to train the population in the use of artificial intelligence. The island nation is investing more than 670 million euros in AI research and development to strengthen its role as an AI hub and position its population as AI experts and testers.

• Who Pays for Continuing Education? The Handelsblatt investigated this labor law issue. The rule is: If training is mandated by the employer, the employer must pay for it. However, if the training is pursued in the employee’s own interest, the costs fall on the employee.

• Mid-Year Summary of the Labor Market: Compared to the previous month, the number of unemployed has changed only slightly. The unemployment rate stood at 6.2% at the mid-year mark. Meanwhile, demand for labor has stabilized: In June, 648,000 job openings were reported, 16,000 more than a year ago.

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