Current statistics data in Serbia show that there is a large number of young people are unemployed and inactive in the labor market. According to the data from the Republic Bureau of statistics, the youth employment rate (15-24) was 23,1% for the third quarter of 2021, and the youth inactivity rate was 64,5%. The share of young people who either work nor are in the process of education was 18,1% in the population aged 15 to 24, and 20% in the group of young people aged 15-29. Summarizing various research findings in the publication of the European network of lifelong leadership policies has shown that career guidance has positive effects in terms of preventing unemployment, reducing the number of dropouts, successful transitions from lower to higher levels of education, and social inclusion. Also, the results of research conducted in Serbia showed that the employability of young people who used services of career guidance and counseling is higher than the employability of young people who did not use these services, and the effects are visible twelve months after a provided services. 

 The Belgrade open school (BOS) ,in partnership with the National Association of the youth offices, will implement the project „Quality career guidance and counseling services: standards for better employability of youth“.

Project activities are focused on improving the competencies of career practitioners, but also strengthening cross–sectoral cooperation with local communities. The project promotes non – formal youth education policy to acquire practical knowledge and skills and capacity building in secondary schools, civil society organizations (CSO), and the youth office (YO) to provide standardized services and youth services in the field of career guidance and counseling. Also, the project contributes to the empowerment of young people to make independent career decisions, but also to increases their active participation in society.

 As a contribution to the development of the career guidance and counseling system in Serbia, the following activities will be implemented through the project:

• Research on career guidance and counseling services in youth offices
• Capacity building training for local YO, CSO, and school teams for career guidance and counseling, following the Standards of services for career guidance and counseling services.
• „Career days“ – implementation of local career guidance and counseling activities
• Empowering young people for career management with the use of ICT resources for career guidance and counseling
• Fair of career guidance and counseling (CGC) – public event as the promotion of quality career guidance and counseling services for young people

The realization of the project is supported by the Ministry of youth and sports of the Republic of Serbia, and the activities will be implemented in during April to December 2022.