Young jobless total rockets

Published on Thursday 18 March 2010 08:52

A NEW drive to tackle youth unemployment has been launched in the Capital, as it was revealed that the number of young people out of work in Edinburgh has reached a 13-year high.

New figures show that 3,125 18-24-year-olds claimed jobseekers allowance last month in the Capital – a seven per cent increase on a month earlier and up by a third on this time last year.

The number of young people signing on the dole in the city is higher than at any time since August 1997.

Now the city council is to step up its efforts to help young people get back into work.

One of the main projects launched by the council was the creation of 80 new job placements, where jobseekers get short contracts giving hands-on experience.

There is to be increased promotion of job vacancies and new apprenticeship schemes created through a training programme.

Council officials are also bidding for more funding to help target schemes at specific areas of the city where unemployment is more than 1.5 per cent above the national average.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, said: "We have always been aware that the effects of the recession, particularly in terms of rising unemployment, would be felt well beyond the initial financial crisis. With this in mind, we have been working closely with partner s to introduce initiatives which aim to ensure that anybody facing redundancy or unemployment can access services targeted to meet their specific needs.

"Tackling unemployment among young people remains a top priority and, through this targeted action plan, we aim to boost the range of employment, training and educational opportunities available."

The council's drive to cut youth unemployment also includes promoting a series of job academies and providing construction and horticultural training for young, long-term unemployed people.

Today's figures show that people between the ages of 18 and 24 account for more than one in four of all people claiming jobseeker benefits in Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, total unemployment has risen to 11,533 – up 30 per cent on a year ago. However, Edinburgh's jobseekers allowance claimant rate of 3.6 per cent remains well below the Scottish average of 4.5 per cent.

Ron Hewitt, chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, admitted that youth unemployment was a major concern but said he was encouraged by the action being taken by the council.

He said: "We constantly hear complaints from businesses saying that they don't have the right skills but it is vitally important that, when young people finish school or college, there are the jobs there for them.

He admitted that times were hard for firms but said that if even just one in six city businesses employed a young person it would eradicate youth unemployment: "We would ask businesses to consider if they can make room for a young person, as that would go a long way towards helping."

'This experience is just so important'

WHEN he finished his HND in computing and technical support at West Lothian College, Christopher Bony had hoped to find a company that would not only give him a job but also develop the skills he had gained.

However, faced with finding a job during one of the worst recessions in decades, he found most companies offered the same answer – he didn't have enough experience.

After around six months of signing on the dole, the 19-year-old from Whitburn was told about the council's placement programme. He was given a six-month contract as the technology specialist at charity Simpson House. Since starting the role earlier this year, he has been helping improve all areas of IT at the charity, which provides counselling services.

"There were not many jobs around when I left college, and those there were wanted at least two years' experience," said Mr Bony. "But I couldn't get that experience because there were no jobs to give me it. Now I'm doing this it is taking what I learnt in college and putting it into a real life experience. It will definitely help me, because it is that experience that is so important."