When policy meets practice: INVI is part of the work to make the Youth Promise succeed
The government has set a historic goal: to get the tens of thousands of young people without jobs or education back into the community. But if the Youth Promise is to succeed, it requires more than new initiatives. It requires that we understand what works in reality - with those who work with young people every day. INVI has agreed to bridge the gap between policy and practice.
Despite decades of reforms and a strong Danish economy, 45,000 young people are still outside education and the labor market. Almost half have a psychiatric diagnosis, and many struggle with multiple challenges that make it difficult to get a foothold.
It's a crazy problem - and one that no one player can solve alone.
That's why the Ministry of Employment, the Danish Agency for Labor Market and Recruitment (STAR) and the think tank INVI are launching a breakthrough in Danish politics:
A practice panel where experiences from municipalities, companies, civil society and foundations - and later the young people themselves - are collected and analyzed continuously. All with the help of artificial intelligence. So knowledge from those on the front line helps shape the efforts to help young people back into the community.
It's democratic innovation for the reform storm of the coming years.
What is Ungeløftet?
Ungeløftet is the government's major ten-year initiative, with DKK 2.3 billion allocated to help young people without jobs and education into the labor market and back into the community. The initiative is based on the realization that no single actor can solve the challenge alone - it requires collaboration between municipalities, companies, civil society, foundations and the young people themselves.
Real-world knowledge - in real time
The Youth Lift Practice Panel gathers experiences from employees across the country - and in the next phase also from the young people themselves.
Their experiences and suggestions are collected digitally and continuously analyzed with the help of artificial intelligence and INVI's wicked Problems Model. This way, patterns, barriers and real-life solutions can be used to adjust efforts along the way - not only afterwards.
The goal is simple: to ensure that the Youth Promise lifts young people in reality. Not just on paper.
Everyone can join in
Anyone working with young people without jobs and education can sign up for the practice panel now. It takes 15 minutes per round - three times over two years - and everything is done digitally.
Participants can choose to respond in writing or by recording their experiences, and all responses are processed pseudonymously and in accordance with GDPR.
In 2026, the practice panel will also be opened to young people themselves, making their voices an integral part of the learning.
Facts about the practice panel
Established by the Ministry of Employment, STAR and Think Tank INVI in September 2025
Participants: municipalities, businesses, civil society organizations, foundations - and from 2026, young people themselves
3 rounds of questions over 2 years - approx. 15 min. per time
Data is analyzed with Model for wicked Problems and shared with the ministry on an ongoing basis