One of the most worrying things about the rise in unemployment is how it is disproportionately affecting young people. As Fraser Nelson blogged on the Spectator Coffee House yesterday, unemployment amongst the 18-25 age group is some 33% higher than when Labour came to power. There are now 935,000 16-24 year olds not in employment, education or training, up from 671,000 in 2001. On top of this, the Government is cutting back its 'Train To Gain' scheme at a time when young people need training the most, and it looks like (according to Sunday's Telegraph) tens of thousands university applicants will not be able to get their desired University place. Graduate employment places are also down by around a third on this time last year.
This recession risks being devastating for a whole generation of young
people. We must do all that we can to ensure that the recession does not produce a 'lost generation' of young talent.
This means creating training places and apprenticeships that will give young people real workplace experience. It means looking at how Further Education is funded to make sure that young people get the best possible opportunities out of FE. It means a proper, structured programme of careers support and advice for young people. It means providing support to business and pressuring the banks to get credit flowing again so jobs can be created.
What we cannot afford is to knee-jerk, as Brown and Mandelson are doing into a series of 'headline grabbing inititiatives' that deliver little of substance for young people. We must ensure that the present generation of school, college and university leavers does not become a lost generation. Economically, socially and morally - we cannot afford for that to happen.
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