LABOR MARKET SEGMENTATION AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT: STRUCTURAL BARRIERS, POLICY RESPONSES, AND INSTITUTIONAL SOLUTIONS

Labor market segmentation significantly shapes youth employment outcomes by creating unequal access to stable jobs, wages, and career prospects. This article investigates the structural nature of labor market duality and its implications for youth unemployment, job precarity, and long-term economic integration. Drawing on international empirical findings and comparative analysis, the study explores how segmented labor markets generate structural barriers for young people and examines the effectiveness of policy interventions, including active labor market policies, vocational education systems, and institutional reforms. The findings indicate that reducing labor market segmentation requires coordinated policy frameworks combining education reform, institutional restructuring, and targeted employment support mechanisms.