Lib
Dems in Government making sure every young person has a fair chance
The
Lib Dems in Government are taking real action to tackle youth
unemployment. Every young person who
wants it will be guaranteed a job, training or work placement.
The Youth Contract will create over
400,000 new jobs and 250,000 new work experience placements to help young
people across Britain to get into work.
Deputy
Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP
said, “If people are out of work when they’re young they
bear the scars for decades. If they have a false start, they might not ever
fully catch up.
"This
£1
billion investment will make sure our young people are earning and learning again,
before long-term damage is done.”
The Liberal Democrats are determined to
tackle youth unemployment - an issue that has been ignored for too long.
During Labour’s 13 years in
power, youth unemployment rose by nearly 40%. There was a shocking 86% increase
in the number of 18-24 year olds claiming Job Seekers Allowance.
Local Lib Dem Cllr John Gibson added, “Our
new plans will make sure every young person has a fair chance. Thanks to the
Lib Dems in Government, 830 local learners took on an apprenticeship in the
past year to gain key skills, and now the 69% of young people in our area on
Job Seekers Allowance will get extra support to help them into work too.”
The £1 billion new
investment to tackle youth unemployment includes:
•
Over
400,000 new work places for 18 – 24 year olds over the next three years
•
250,000
extra work experience places for every 18 –
24 year old who wants one (after 3 months on Job Seekers Allowance) and 160,000
wage subsidies
•
All
18 – 24 year olds to receive extra careers
support from Job Seekers Plus (after 3 months on Job Seekers Allowance)
•
More
funding to support apprenticeships, including 20,000 more incentive payments to
encourage employers to take on young apprentices
•
A
new programme to help the most disengaged 16 –
17 year olds get learning again or into a job with training