On the surface, the Unemployment figures released this week look positive, as it has fallen to a five-year low. The figures show that there was a drop of 77,000, leaving 2.4 million people unemployed in the UK.
Dig deeper however and it becomes clear that for youth employment, the figures are still unhappy reading. Firstly, it should be recognised that here is a drop, as unemployment rates for 16-24 year olds dropped 1.9% on last year, falling to 19.2% for the 3 months to February.
However, these official figures are still far too high, as it means that more than 880,000 people aged between 16 and 24 in the UK are jobless. Worryingly, nearly 250,000 of these had been unemployed for over a year, as government measures have failed to see a large reintroduction of 16-24 year-olds into the work place.
Thus, perhaps it is time that the UK parliament looked towards the Scottish parliament, as their measures to decrease youth unemployment are proving successful. In 2011, Scotland appointed Angela Constance to become Minister of Youth Employment, becoming the first Minister to be responsible in either the Scottish or UK parliament solely for youth employment. Her responsibilities include working with organisations that deliver Youth Employment programmes and making sure that the community (education providers etc) have the right skills to enter the workplace.
Currently, Scotland has the eighth lowest youth unemployment figures in the whole of the European Union and in turn, has a youth employment rate that is higher than UK’s rate as a whole, showing that they are far ahead in getting the young into work.
A large part of this, aside from the Minsters’ role, is their apprenticeship scheme, which appears more effective than those that the UK government has Parliament has pedalled out. In Scotland, it is claimed that 25,000 apprenticeships are delivered a year and that the employment afterwards is strong, with 92% still in work after six months, according to Alex Salmond.
For the last academic year there was in fact, a decline of 10,000 apprenticeships started in the UK on the previous year, which is concerning, considering that this was achieved on a higher budget.
This is hugely relevant to these latest figures, as skills are easily lost when you have left the work force or for some of the sample, have never had the opportunity to enter it. It suggests that more has to be done in the UK to get the 880,000 without jobs into apprenticeship schemes or similar schemes to make them attractive to prospective employers.
There is a real risk of losing part of the next generation’s output ability, as the unemployed youngsters continue to fall behind. The appointment of a Minister solely responsible for Youth Employment like Scottish Government Minister Angela Constance would be a huge step in the right direction. Having even a Junior Minister in the UK parliament, responsible for the whole UK would have a large impact as a specific youth focus is what the government seems to be really lacking in tackling this issue.
There are some circles that believe the creation of such a position would cause upheaval and chaos within the Cabinet. Surely, the short term upheaval to reshuffle the cabinet and create a role, which is somewhat proven to aid unemployment, is preferential to a generation being lost? I would say that anything is preferential to anyone being left behind, especially when the effect would be so positive for the UK economy.
Finally, perhaps the image of apprenticeships, certainly in England, needs to be altered, as the pay often deters potential learners. An element of school leavers often want the ‘quick buck’ and aren’t always prepared to take a cut now to better their career path in the future. I have friends who left education to pursue temporary retail jobs, who were then let ago after 6 months or less, leaving them in a difficult situation, unemployed and forced to wait until the next academic year to begin training or face the hardship of finding another job.
If this can change, then there is more chance that young people won’t just be temporary staff, but have a career path that is more certain and enables greater opportunity and more employment security when they finally do enter the work force. Otherwise, immensely talented young people are becoming downbeat and their potential wasted.
Ending on a positive, with a Youth Employment Minister appointed and more chances created, then youth unemployment can improve and the ‘lost generation’ can be re-found!
