Under normal economic circumstances, active labour market programmes (ALMPs), such as job-search assistance, training and employment incentive schemes, play an important role during the schoolto- work transition period for youth, especially for the low-skilled ones. During an economic recession that significantly reduces job opportunities for the labour-market entrants, an adequate safety net in combination with well-designed ALMPs is important to preventing youth poverty, disengagement from the labour market and human capital depreciation. Effective ALMPs can also contribute to rapid (re)integration into employment, once the economic growth picks up again.