Experience with participants in our programmes show the lack of strategic planning on career guidance for the youth, especially in times, when they are facing questions and dilemmas on how to choose future occupation and plan their career path. In their experience counselling in institutional sense was not sufficient and it did not take into account their wishes, skills and advantages. In a way, they were "forced" into education programmes, they could not relate to.

Relying on expert data, collected through research and monitoring of the situation in the occupational field and career guidance for the youth and experience gained during working with the youth, we could say that many people, on account of systemic disorganisation and insufficient planning, do not find the desired occupation or cannot decide about their career path. This leads to the conclusion that this field lacks professionally supported work.

Reasons:

• Insufficient information;
• Lack of consideration for individual's interests;
• Rigidity of educational system;
• Lack of interest in the individual by the state (more funding would be required to adapt to the needs of the individual, work opportunities and linking with new forms of human development).   

Consequences:

• A part of life strength of the individual is "lost";
• Feeling of having 'no way out', especially for the target groups that are most at risk (young, old, low-educated, handicapped people);
• High unemployment rates;
• High drop-out rate, especially in secondary education;
• Decreased health of the population at risk (both physical and mental);
• Low motivation for change.

Possible solutions:

• More emphasis on individual's interests, advantages, skills, wishes and expectations;
• More emphasis on the individual guidance and personal approach;
• Improved possibilities for nonformal learning (PLYA programme for example);
• Improved educational provision for guidance practitioners.