| Name of the reform | Youth Counselling / Jugendcoaching |
| Country | Austria |
| Year | 2012 |
| Educational level | ISCED 3 |
| Kind / type | Other |
| Coverage | National |
Summary
Austria’s Youth Coaching reform, introduced in 2012 and expanded nationwide in 2013, provides early identification, individualised counselling and tailored support to young people at risk of dropping out of education or training. As a key component of the Education and Training up to the age of 18 (AusBildung bis 18) framework, it aims to prevent early school leaving, facilitate transitions into education, training or employment, and reduce the risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training). Importantly, the reform follows a preventive and universal approach: although support is intensified for those identified as being at risk, the system is designed to reach all young people at key educational transitions, enabling early intervention before educational disengagement or social exclusion occurs.
Agenda Setting
Context:
Although in 2012 Austria had a lower Early School Leavers (ESL) rate than the EU average (8.3%), ESL was disproportionately prevalent among socially disadvantaged groups, such as those from migrant communities, those with disabilities and/or learning difficulties and those whose parents had low qualifications. These forms of potential socio-economic disadvantage have been linked to a higher risk of falling out of education, training and the labour market, which carries negative economic, social, and political costs. The Austrian government committed to lowering the number of young people within the category of NEETs (not in education, employment or training) and implemented a range of schemes, including Youth Coaching, to support the most at-risk groups.
Aim:
By providing customised support and guidance to vulnerable young people, Youth Coaching aimed to reduce the early school leaving rate and make the school-to-work transition easier. In particular, it was intended to serve as:
- A form of support for young adults to enter into the form of study or training most suited to their skills and interests
- A preventive measure to lower the risk of disadvantaged young people falling into the NEET category
Target Groups
- Pupils in the 9th grade of compulsory school
- NEET identified young people up to the age of 19
- Young people with special needs or disabilities up to the age of 25
Formulation and Implementation
Legislative documents:
Youth Coaching was launched by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in 2012 and was subsequently embedded in the Education and Training framework (AusBildung bis 18) up to the age of 18, established under the Compulsory Training Act (Ausbildungspflichtgesetz, 2016).
Key actions / main measures:
Youth Coaching was introduced in 2012 in two Austrian provinces (Vienna and Styria) and expanded nationwide in 2013. It has become a central element of Austria’s efforts to prevent and reduce early school leaving by identifying young people at risk and providing tailored guidance and support at an early stage. Since 2016, Youth Coaching has been embedded in the Education up to 18 framework (AusBildung bis 18), which requires all young people to remain in education or training beyond compulsory schooling until the age of 18. Its key mechanisms include early identification of risk factors, individual counselling, case management, and referrals to appropriate educational, training, or support services.
Evaluation and Sustainability
The 2012 pilot scheme appeared to have been fairly successful, leading the government to extend it to the rest of the country in 2013. The majority of participants completed the full programme of coaching, with agreed goals for the future and reported improvements to their wellbeing. Over 12,500 young people were involved in the programme in Vienna and Styria. Of these, 85% completed the scheme. Over two-thirds of participants reported improvements in key areas, such as self-confidence and clarity about their career paths. The 2013 programme is projected to support around 35,000 young people. Young people from migrant backgrounds benefited most from the scheme. This aligns with the programme’s broader objective of helping those most at risk of falling out of the education system.
Sustainability:
More than a decade after its introduction, Youth Coaching has become a firmly institutionalised element of Austria’s support system for young people and a central pillar of the Education until 18 framework (AusBildung bis 18). In 2024, the programme recorded 70,493 participations nationwide, involving more than 50,000 young people entering the programme, and was delivered through 35 projects employing 987 staff members. Its sustainability is reinforced by nationwide implementation, integration across education and social-support systems, and evidence of positive participant outcomes. In 2024, assessments showed substantial improvements in participants’ motivation to develop future educational and career plans during the coaching process.
Transferability Potential
The reform is particularly relevant for countries seeking to reduce early school leaving and NEET rates through systematic early identification of at-risk young people and personalised support. Its transferability rests on the ability to establish effective cooperation between schools, vocational guidance services, employment agencies and social-support providers, enabling young people to be identified early and referred to appropriate forms of assistance. However, transferability may be limited in contexts where schools, employment services and social-support agencies operate separately, as the effectiveness of youth coaching depends heavily on timely referral pathways, information exchange and coordinated follow-up of young people at risk.