How can employment policies support young people entering the labour market? Alban Knecht analyses the changes in political discourses and social-political measures with regards to employment promotion for disadvantaged young people in Austria. Against the background of his resource theory, he discusses measures such as inter-company apprenticeships, youth guarantee, and compulsory training and illustrates the impact that the social investment paradigm as well as capability-orientated, neoliberal, and right-wing populist approaches may have on the practical work of professionals and on the young people concerned.