The Welsh government yesterday outlined plans for 12,000 new jobs for young people over the next three years, reports Left Foot Forward’s Ed Jacobs.
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Just a day after Izzy Koksal used an article on Left Foot Forward to outline why the Nick Clegg’s new “Youth Contract” is unlikely to make much of an impact in addressing the youth unemployment crisis, the Welsh government yesterday announced plans to create 12,000 jobs for young people over the next three years.
Whilst figures published in March showed that 21,000 more people across Wales entered employment between November and January to 1.34 million, unemployment over the same period rose by 1,000 to 134,000 or 9.1%.
Under the new scheme, £75 million will be made available to boost employment opportunities for 12,000 16- to 24-year-olds by giving them paid work for a period of six months, with participants earning at least the National Minimum Wage for a minimum of 25 hours per week.
To launch “Jobs Growth Wales”, a key plank of Welsh Labour’s manifesto (pdf) for last year’s Assembly elections, first minister Carwyn Jones visited Scarlet Communications in Carmarthen, one of the companies taking part in the programme pilots.
He explained:
“Jobs Growth Wales is a flagship policy in our commitment to boost economic growth and jobs in Wales. Not only will this scheme create opportunities for unemployed young people – who have suffered more than most in the recession – but these posts will also be new jobs, helping Welsh businesses to expand.”
• Budget 2012: Young people weren’t expecting much, and got even less 23 Mar 2012
• Jobcentre Plus needs radical and urgent reform to bring down unemployment 23 Feb 2012
• New record high for NEETs in 2011 – but why? 23 Feb 2012
• Teenagers need EMA, not JSA, to get back into the workplace 22 Feb 2012
• Osborne’s austerity obsession is betraying a generation of young people 16 Feb 2012
• David Miliband is spot on in highlighting the structural roots of youth unemployment 6 Feb 2012
• European Socialists present their action plan on youth unemployment 26 Jan 2012
Deputy minister for skills, Jeff Cuthbert, continued:
“The current financial climate has led to the emergence of a growing number of 16- to 24-year-olds who have fallen outside work or education. Jobs Growth Wales will enable individuals to gain good quality work experience to progress into permanent employment or where appropriate an apprenticeship.
“We will work with all employers and young people involved to do our very best to ensure there is a destination for everyone, be it full-time work with the current employer, an apprenticeship or a full-time job with another employer.”
Jason Rosser, Managing Director of Scarlet Communications, commented:
“We were delighted to take part in this innovative scheme. Not only have we been able to offer valuable experience to some enthusiastic and talented young people but it has also given us the chance to expand our business into new areas. As a result of the programme we hope to be able to create new permanent posts and offer full time work to all participants.”
Further information is available on the Careers Wales website.
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