The situation of Spain’s young people is a cause for concern, particularly the difficulties they face in finding employment, as evidenced by years of high unemployment rates that hid hardest at the lower skilled. The problem has worsened in the last decade, because of the devastating effect of the Great Recession and, more recently, because the COVID-19 pandemic cut short the job creation process begun in 2014.

The aim of this publication is to undertake a board-ranging broad analysis of the current situation and future prospects of Spanish youth, fundamentally those that make up the so-called generations Y and Z, drawing on the abundant empirical evidence available. Today we have a wealth of documentary and statistical data with which to explore the differences between young generations and remaining age groups. The bmonograph expands the focus, analyzing the heterogeneity existing among young people from multiple perspectives. It finds that the differences between young people, evidenced by their disparate situations and opportunities, are mainly linked to socioeconomic factors and, most notably, to the educational level attained.

From these multiple approaches to the situation of young people, the monograph centers on those touching on economic dimensions and the social dimensions related thereto. This means omitting from its scope other interesting aspects of the behavior and situation of young people, which are dealt with in other studies but which are further removed from the specialization of the research team.

This publication will be of interest not only to researchers, economists and sociologists specializing in youth studies, but also the general public and young people belonging to the generations considered, who will find interesting insights on the topics addressed. The results may also serve as input to the design of public policies to support young people’s social and labor market integration.