youth information worker
Key facts
Are you passionate about empowering young people and supporting their journey to independence? As a youth information worker, you'll be a vital resource, providing guidance and support to help young individuals navigate life's challenges and opportunities.
Youth information workers play a crucial role in supporting young people's wellbeing and autonomy. You’ll work in various settings, such as community centers, schools, or local government offices, to deliver information, guidance, and counselling. Your work focuses on ensuring services are accessible and welcoming, and you’ll actively reach out to diverse groups of young people to promote their active citizenship and informed decision-making. Collaboration with other services is key to providing holistic support.
- • Providing information and guidance on topics like education, employment, housing, health, and relationships.
- • Delivering counselling and support to young people facing personal challenges.
- • Developing and running activities and programs to reach a wide range of young people, tailoring approaches to meet specific needs.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Legal, social and cultural professionals — 186 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Estonia, Finland, France, Germany and 2 more.
Longest-running shortage: Belgium, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Could youth information worker fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Concern for Others?
Future Outlook for youth information worker
The outlook for youth information worker reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could youth information worker change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could youth information worker change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- provide youth information counselling
- provide information
- support the autonomy of young people
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- collaborate through digital technologies
- maintain updated professional knowledge
- manage youth information services
Tasks most exposed to automation
- manage data, information and digital content
- organise information services
- write work-related reports
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Education
A typical day as a youth information worker
09 09:00 · Morning assess the development of youth
10 10:30 · Mid-morning apply quality standards in youth services
12 12:00 · Midday cooperate with professionals
14 14:00 · Afternoon develop non-formal educational activities
15 15:30 · Late afternoon empower young people
17 17:00 · Wrap-up establish connections with young people
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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media and information literacy
The ability to access media, to understand and critically evaluate different aspects of the media and media content and to create communications in a variety of contexts. It involves a range of cognitive, emotional, and social competencies that include the use of text, tools and technologies, the skills of critical thinking and analysis, the practice of messaging composition and creativity and the ability to engage in reflection and ethical thinking.
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project management
The discipline of project management, the activities which comprise this area and the variables implied in it, such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
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youth work principles
The purpose and fundamental features of youth work: helping young people to reach their full potential. Youth work encompasses a broad range of activities carried out with, by and for young people through non-formal and informal learning.
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youth-centred approach
Young people’s interests, needs, problems and psychology and their environments, the issues affecting them, and the opportunities and services to support them.
- communication principles
- social media management
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provide youth information counselling
Make sure young people are aware of their rights and the services to which they may apply in case of need. This includes providing support in selecting and evaluating the quality of available information, guiding young people in reaching their own decisions and offering customised information on relevant opportunities and services.
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support the autonomy of young people
Support young people's choices, showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence.
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empower young people
Build a sense of empowerment in young people in their different dimensions in life, such as but not excluded to: civic, social, economic, cultural and health areas.
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establish connections with young people
Build positive, non-judgemental relationships with young people by being open, tolerant and non-judgemental.
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reach out to diverse youth
Target and reach out to young people from different racial, social and economic backgrounds.
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identify information needs of young people
Inquire and identify the information needs of young people and adapt services and approach towards their individual or collective needs.
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communicate with youth
Use verbal and non-verbal communication and communicate through writing, electronic means, or drawing. Adapt your communication to children and young people`s age, needs, characteristics, abilities, preferences, and culture.
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support the positiveness of youths
Help children and young people to assess their social, emotional and identity needs and to develop a positive self image, enhance their self esteem and improve their self reliance.
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mentor individuals
Mentor individuals by providing emotional support, sharing experiences and giving advice to the individual to help them in their personal development, as well as adapting the support to the specific needs of the individual and heeding their requests and expectations.
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manage data, information and digital content
Organise, store and retrieve data, information and content in digital environments. Organise and process them in a structured environment.
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organise information services
Plan, organise and evaluate information activities and services. Those include searching for information relevant to the target group, compiling easily understandable information material and finding various ways to disseminate the information through different channels used by the target group.
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communicate professionally with colleagues in other fields
Communicate professionally and cooperate with members of the other professions in the health and social services sector.
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develop professional network
Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
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exercise patience
Have patience by dealing with unexpected delays or other waiting periods without becoming annoyed or anxious.
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assess the development of youth
Evaluate the different aspects of development needs of children and young people.
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collaborate through digital technologies
Use digital tools and technologies for collaborative processes, and for co-construction and co-creation of resources and knowledge.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
See whether this role fits your Career DNA
Take the free Career DNA assessment to see how youth information worker aligns with your interests, work style, and future path. In less than 10 minutes, you will get a personalized fit signal and a roadmap for what to do next.
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Where does youth information worker fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of qualifications are typically needed to become a youth information worker?
- While specific requirements vary, many employers look for individuals with a background in social work, youth development, education, or a related field. Relevant experience working with young people is highly valued. Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills are essential.
- What does 'working in partnership' mean in this role?
- It means collaborating closely with other professionals and organizations, such as schools, healthcare providers, housing agencies, and voluntary sector groups. This ensures young people receive a coordinated and comprehensive support system tailored to their individual needs.
- How does this role contribute to a young person’s wellbeing?
- By providing accessible information, guidance, and a safe space to explore options, youth information workers empower young people to make informed choices about their lives. This fosters self-esteem, resilience, and a sense of control, ultimately contributing to their overall wellbeing and future success.
- Youth Information Worker — is there a shortage in Europe?
- No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 4 of the 7 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Czechia, Greece, Portugal. 3 countries reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Youth Information Worker — what does it pay in the United States?
- $68,090 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $36,050 to $94,100. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.