Government unveils youth jobs package

With around one-in-five, or almost one million, 16 to 24-year-olds unemployed, the Government has announced details of a £60 million apprenticeship and work placement scheme to help get more young people off welfare and into work.

The Government will fund up to 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years, and 100,000 work placements over the next two years. The Government has also announced a £10-million a year “innovation fund” to encourage voluntary organisations to help young people find jobs.

Youth unemployment has risen by 66,000 to 965,000 – the highest figure since records began in 1992.

Launching the youth jobs package, Prime Minister David Cameron urged business to help the Government tackle the “scourge” of youth unemployment by hiring more young people.

It’s time to reverse the trend of rising youth unemployment that has held back our country for far too long. Prime Minister David Cameron

“It’s time to reverse the trend of rising youth unemployment that has held back our country for far too long and help our young people get the jobs on which their future – and ours – depends.

“But government can’t act alone. We need employers who are prepared to give young people a go.”

Lost generation

More than 100 large companies and tens of thousands of small and medium sized enterprises had offered to provide work experience for tens of thousands of young people, Mr Cameron said.

Unions and the Labour Party have criticised the Government for not doing enough to tackle youth unemployment, warning that the economic downturn could create a “whole generation” of young people affected by a lack of jobs.

Trades Union Congress General Secretary Brendan Barber said the Government’s youth jobs package did not go far enough.

“Anything that helps a single young person into work or quality training is welcome, but these proposals fail to match the guarantees given by the now defunct Future Jobs Fund,” he said.

“The best thing ministers could do is stop their deep rapid spending cuts that are running the whole economy into the ground, with the young as the worst victims.”