Simplify schemes to help young unemployed, says Clegg
16 July 2013
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced an urgent review into how best to help the UK’s young unemployed into work.
Tue, 16 Jul 2013Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced an urgent review into how best to help the UK’s young unemployed into work.
His call for action comes as unemployment among Britain’s 18-24-year-olds remains persistently high, with almost 1.65m 18-24-year-olds economically inactive (not in work and not looking for work) in February to April this year.
As recruiter.co.uk reported in June, one of the government’s flagship policies, its £1bn Youth Contract has so far failed to ignite the interest of employers.
Speaking at the Confederation of British Industry’s annual dinner, Clegg said that school leavers were faced with a bewildering number of schemes designed to support them, with too many getting lost “in a maze of different programmes”.
Clegg told the CBI: “Sat at home, trying to figure out what to do with the rest of their life, the average school leaver doesn't have a clue about which government departments or agencies look after the schemes that are out there to help them.”
And he continued: “Right now it's too easy for those young people who don't think university is right for them to get lost in the maze of different employment and skills programmes available and never find the advice, support and options they need.”
The review, which will look at ways to simplify the system, is due to report to the prime minister and deputy prime minister in the autumn.
His call for action comes as unemployment among Britain’s 18-24-year-olds remains persistently high, with almost 1.65m 18-24-year-olds economically inactive (not in work and not looking for work) in February to April this year.
As recruiter.co.uk reported in June, one of the government’s flagship policies, its £1bn Youth Contract has so far failed to ignite the interest of employers.
Speaking at the Confederation of British Industry’s annual dinner, Clegg said that school leavers were faced with a bewildering number of schemes designed to support them, with too many getting lost “in a maze of different programmes”.
Clegg told the CBI: “Sat at home, trying to figure out what to do with the rest of their life, the average school leaver doesn't have a clue about which government departments or agencies look after the schemes that are out there to help them.”
And he continued: “Right now it's too easy for those young people who don't think university is right for them to get lost in the maze of different employment and skills programmes available and never find the advice, support and options they need.”
The review, which will look at ways to simplify the system, is due to report to the prime minister and deputy prime minister in the autumn.
