Young people and employment

The Government has published the Social Mobility Business Compact, which was set up by the Deputy Prime Minister with the goal of making sure that all young people have fair and open access to employment opportunities. Through the Compact businesses can sign up to:

  • Raise aspirations by working with communities and local schools;
  • Provide opportunities for all young people to get onto the job market; and
  • Recruit openly and fairly, ensuring non-discrimination and not using informal networks.

For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/news/social-mobility-help-young-people-on-the-road-to-employment.

The Department for Work and Pensions has published a summary of findings of an evaluation of the Innovation Fund pilots. The £30million Youth Unemployment Innovation Fund aimed at helping disadvantaged young people who are, or are at risk of becoming, not in education, employment or training.

The research reports that the 10 pilots have successfully identified and engaged some of the most disadvantaged young people in society.

For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-innovation-fund-pilots-qualitative-evaluation-summary-of-early-implementation-findings.

The Office for National Statistics has published the latest labour market statistics, with key findings including that:

  • In the three months to March 2014, there were 3.71 million 16 to 24 year olds in employment, up 31,000 on the previous quarter;
  • There were 868,000 unemployed 16 to 24 years olds, down 48,000 from the previous quarter and down 89,000 on the same quarter in 2012-2013;
  • The unemployment rate for 16 to 24 year olds was 19 percent, down 1 percentage points from the previous quarter;
  • The number of 16 to 24 years olds unemployed for over a year decreased to 247,000 from 257,000 and the number unemployed for over two years decreased to 104,000 from 114,000; and
  • There are 282,600 unemployed young people who are not in education and do not claim Jobseeker’s Allowance, 48.8 percent of all unemployed young people who are not students, with this proportion having risen by nearly 20 percentage points since October 2012.

To view the full statistics visit www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/april-2014/statistical-bulletin.html#tab-Young-People-in-the-Labour-Market.

The Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council has adopted a resolution on an EU Work Plan for Youth 2014-2015, which puts young people at the core of the European agenda, underlining the importance and need for effective policies during this period of crisis for young people and high unemployment rates.

The plan sets three clear priorities for the next 18 months, which are:

  • Development of youth work (non-formal and informal learning);
  • Enhancement of cross-sectorial participation between the other EU policy areas (employment and education); and
  • Empowerment with a special focus on access to rights, autonomy, participation and active citizenship.

For further information visit http://youth-partnership-eu.coe.int/youth-partnership/news/news_472.html.