My nephew plans on moving to Europe.

[Swede]

No set plans about work,he just wants to see Europe before he settles down (he's 23). We have relatives in Ireland,Germany and Sweden that he is contacting. How easy will it be for him to find work?

[RagingInMiami]

1. I set off to Europe ten years ago after graduating college

I worked in Spain as a karaoke MC and bartender, and I worked in Dublin as a waiter, holding several jobs during the 18 months I was there. In Dublin, I even got a tax number, which is their version of a SS number.
I never had trouble finding work.

[JVS]

2. When I was in Germany my student visa forbade working

I suppose the tourist visa would also forbid working

[miss_kitty]

3. does he have a grandma born in Ireland?

It used to be, if you had a grandma born in Ireland, you could get an Irish passport, which pretty much opens many EU doors for one.

[SheilaT]

9. Getting the Irish passport

involves getting an amazing amount of documentation. I know because I'm still trying to track down everything I need. You need original (not copies) birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates if the grandparent or parent is no longer still living. I can't find where my grandparents were married, and the state of New York doesn't want to release my mother's birth certificate. It's a huge hassle.

[ikojo]

10. What about a grandpa born in Ireland?

My grandpa on my dad's side was born in Ireland.

[RagingInMiami]

4. Americans are not legally allowed to work in the EU

Unless they had a parent or grandparent born there.
The truth is, if you're willing to work, you will find work. Especially in the service industry, which is a great way to learn the culture anyway.

[Swede]

5. That's what he was think of.

He said he might be a waiter or dishwasher,but he'd be in Europe washing dishes!
Oh,I forgot to mention we're Canadian. Not sure if that will matter in England jobwise,but we are in the Commonwealth.

[RagingInMiami]

6. I'm not sure about the commonwealth factor either

But Canadians are always well-received in Europe, more so than Americans from my experience.
There are hundreds of Americans and Canadians working in Europe illegally and no one cares. The only time I ever had a problem was when I was flying into Dublin from Spain on a one-way ticket because I knew I was going to end up living there.
The customs guy at the airport busted my balls for about 35 minutes before stamping something in my passport that said I'm only allowed to stay in the country for up to 90 days.
After that, I never had a problem. I even visited the doctor when I was sick, paying the co-pay as if I was an Irish citizen.
Most of my employers would pay me cash, but when I got hired by a guy who wanted to tax me, I went down to the tax office, applied for a card and that was it.
I even got money back at the end of the year.
I had a blast while working there and I wouldn't trade those two years in Europe for anything.

[Swede]

7. I wished I'd done that when I was in my twenties.

I told the nephew to go for it.

[prairierose]

8. My nephew did a semester in Ireland...

and absolutely loved it. He did work, it was some kind of take a semester off & work thing. He came back a certified barrista!!! That doesn't seem to mean much here but was apparently a big deal there. Now I'm trying to convince him to go back before the draft starts again.