Job Fit launched to boost job prospects of young people from black and ethnic minorities
4 March 2014
A campaign to get more young people from black and ethnic minorities (BAME) into work was launched yesterday by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.
Tue, 4 March 2014A campaign to get more young people from black and ethnic minorities (BAME) into work was launched yesterday by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.
Job Fit has been developed following survey results, which showed that young people wanted more mentoring and work experience opportunities.
Although the employment gap between ethnic minorities and the overall population has narrowed from 15.2 percentage points 10 years ago to 11.8 percentage points today, young black men are still more likely to be unemployed – 24% of all young black men, compared with 15% of all young men.
Speaking as a trial project was launched in the London Borough of Haringey, with the support of Sainsbury’s and Tottenham Football Club working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, Duncan Smith said: “Over the past decade the employment gap has narrowed, but we know more needs to be done. Government’s role is to ensure they [young BAME people] have the skills and the support they need to fulfil their aspirations. But businesses have a valuable role to play too – by opening their doors and giving young people a chance.”
Job Fit has been developed following survey results, which showed that young people wanted more mentoring and work experience opportunities.
Although the employment gap between ethnic minorities and the overall population has narrowed from 15.2 percentage points 10 years ago to 11.8 percentage points today, young black men are still more likely to be unemployed – 24% of all young black men, compared with 15% of all young men.
Speaking as a trial project was launched in the London Borough of Haringey, with the support of Sainsbury’s and Tottenham Football Club working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, Duncan Smith said: “Over the past decade the employment gap has narrowed, but we know more needs to be done. Government’s role is to ensure they [young BAME people] have the skills and the support they need to fulfil their aspirations. But businesses have a valuable role to play too – by opening their doors and giving young people a chance.”
