The A start an Opportunity programme targets NEET youth aged 16-25 who have completed compulsory education and hold at most an upper secondary qualification. The programme allows youth to choose among the following options: fully subsidised work experience for five months, training in information and communication skills and integrated counselling including vocational guidance and job-search training. Notably, the conversion of unemployment benefit payments into wage subsidies launched in 2004 was extended to public sector employment in order to offset very weak job creation in the private sector in the context of the economic slowdown.