Comparing Pathways into the Labor Market of Young People with Disabilities in Switzerland and Luxembourg

This Forum contribution provides insights from the comparative PATH_CH-Lux project on school-to-work transitions for young people with disabilities in Switzerland and Luxembourg, which examines drivers and barriers using a cross-national, mixed-methods approach. It focuses on three perspectives: young people’s experiences, expectations, and aspirations; employer recruitment practices analyzed through a factorial survey design; and insights from social service professionals to identify areas for improved support. A comparative institutional analysis highlights opportunity structures shaped by systemic factors in both countries. Preliminary findings from the authors’ research provide a foundation for understanding institutional, organizational, and individual factors affecting labor market inclusion. Switzerland and Luxembourg’s high-skill labor markets and multicultural contexts offer valuable cases that emphasizing the need for the transformation of historically separate and stigmatizing settings, enhanced guidance and support systems, and employer awareness to improve experiences and outcomes for young people with disabilities transitioning from school to work