Young people are being hit the hardest by the shrinking jobs market. 40% of unemployed people are currently aged between 16 and 24. “We know from previous recessions that the longer young people are out of work, the greater the risk that they will become locked into longterm unemployment,” said Dr Sue Farrant, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for West Dorset.
“A whole generation from the eighties were blighted with long-term unemployment – the Liberal Democrats are determined that the same thing should not hapen again,” she added. Too many young people still have no qualifications and once they sign on they often don’t get any specialist help until they have been unemployed for twelve months – that’s simply too long.
The Liberal Democrat plans include:
- funding 800,000 paid internships lasting three months at no cost to employers
- increased funding for adult apprenticeships with more vocational training in the workplace
- 60,000 extra places at colleges and universities and giving young people help to find a place in work, training, education or internship after being unemployed for 3 months!
“We must ensure that our young people get a fair start in adult life,” concluded Sue Farrant.
