Abstract
Young people are finding themselves increasingly excluded from the full time labour market. The continuing concerns about youth unemployment, should it is argued,be seen as both resulting from structural change in global economics at one level and part of a broader culture of exclusion regarding young people at another. This paper explores youth unemployment from a rights perspective, and supports the view that policies and practices based on a broad notion of citizenship, and underpinned by human rights principles, are needed if 'the problem' of youth unemployment is to be responded to in more than a token manner.