Youth employment initiatives will help unlock opportunities for young people, says the CIPD

Further to the government announcing a package of support to help more young people into work, Lizzie Crowley, skills adviser for the CIPD, said:

“We welcome the Government’s focus on tackling youth unemployment and supporting more young people into work, particularly through new incentives to help employers create entry-level jobs and apprenticeships. Many of these measures reflect changes we have been calling for, including stronger support for employers to create high-quality opportunities and more flexible routes into work for young people.

“The introduction of incentives to take on people who have been searching for work for six months or more will be especially important for small and medium-sized businesses. These businesses play a vital role in employing young people but often face greater financial and capacity constraints when creating new roles. With the number of young people not in education, employment, or training rising significantly in recent years, rebuilding clear pathways into work must be a priority. However, different incentive schemes have been tried in the past with varying degrees of success. It is important that meaningful jobs are created which also support skills development, and that the process for claiming the incentives are simple and clearly communicated.

“For young people, paid placements are crucial as they help build essential skills, boost confidence, and enable individuals to gain valuable experience of the workplace. Such support can also help counterbalance measures in the Employment Rights Act that could mean employers are less likely to take a chance on young workers with limited experience.

“The packages announced today are wide-reaching, but young people and employers alike would still benefit from an apprenticeship guarantee that would apply to all 16-24-year-olds in the UK that meet minimum requirements. This would provide young people with a firm basis for earning and learning, while helping employers build a pipeline of talent. Such a move is backed by nine in ten employers surveyed by the CIPD.

“To address wider barriers and ensure the placements benefit business as well as young people, we need to ensure that smaller businesses are provided with practical advice and support to develop roles for young people. Strengthening people management capability in smaller firms will be key to ensuring these opportunities help young people build essential skills, gain meaningful experience, and progress in work.”