‘Growth alone won’t help jobless youth’ warns CBI chief

By TERRY MURDEN
Published on 27/06/2012 00:00

CBI boss John Cridland will today warn that a return to growth will not in itself solve the youth unemployment crisis and will call for urgent action.

The director general will share a platform with deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, and leading business figures at the CBI’s Action for Jobs summit, where he is set to urge businesses and government to work together to do more to give people the skills and opportunities they need to get jobs.

He will argue that unemployment divides the haves and have-nots and cuts across generational lines. “As employers we can and should step up to give all of our young people the support they deserve,” he will say.

The CBI will update its Action for Jobs report published last October which will show that progress has been made on a £1 billion Youth Contract. But it will call for simplification of initiatives for employers.

“The Youth Contract strikes the right balance, recognising the work each employer is doing for the wider community,” says Cridland.

However, he will add: “The next challenge is making it simple for firms to get involved. Many employers phoning the helpline in the early days didn’t receive the advice they needed.”

“Business will step up, but government has to meet it halfway.

“If ever there was a case of not being able to see the wood for the trees, this is it.

“Confusion dilutes well-intentioned policies.”