How many young people at or below the age of 25 are registered as unemployed

1240/5(1974)

QUESTION TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 21st OCTOBER 2003,

BY DEPUTY R.G. LE HERISSIER OF ST. SAVIOUR

Question

1. W o uld the President state howmanyyoung people atorbelowtheage of 25 are registered as unemployed at present, and is theCommittee satisfied that this number is an accurate reflection ofthereal situation in regard to youthunemployment?
2. W  hat measures, if any, are in place to deal with youth unemployment and how effective are these measures proving?

Answer

1. A s at the 30th September2003,therewere97atorbelowtheageof25 registered asunemployed for contribution purposesoutof a total of342ofworking age. Thereisno legal requirement toregisteras unemployed in Jersey so it maynotfully reflect the real situation. However,young people whohave recently leftschool are also encouraged to keep intouchwith the Careers Service intheDepartmentof Education, Sportand Culture. ThatDepartmenthas recently reported that 29 school leavers are still on their register.
2. T h ere are a numberofmeasuresinplace to support people, irrespective of age, to improve their skills, qualifications and access to the labour market.

S p e c ifically, for young people, career guidance is provided in all educational establishments and every

encouragement is given to pupils to attain qualifications which will help them achieve their career aspirations. I am advised that more young people than ever this year have chosen to continue their education after the age of 16 at Hautlieu and Highlands, the latter reporting that their enrolment has increased by 15 per cent to 710 full time students. Although, student choices may have been influenced by the tight labour market situation, it is a positive outcome for the Island because it will eventually contribute to a much higher skills base.

H i g h lands has been monitoring the destinations of its pupils and reports that well qualified students are

continuing to gain employment with particularly good placement rates in childcare, construction, media, business and the motor vehicle trade.

I n a ddition to the educational provision, apprenticeship schemes, funded through the Training and

Employment Partnership, (TEP), are available in various trades including brick and block, carpentry, plumbing, painting, welding, motor vehicle and chefs. I am advised that there are currently 130 apprentices supported by these schemes. The TEP also sponsors a Skills Credit programme which provides help to young people between the ages of 16 and 19 with the costs of training.

F i n al ly, the Work Services at the Employment and Social Security Department provide many different

forms of support from help with career guidance, job matching and information, job applications and interview techniques to skill development and job coach support for those with special employment needs. The Workwise team now have a job coach whose sole responsibility is to support young people and who liaises closely with the schools. Young people with disabilities can also get support through the Jersey Employment Trust which operates a number of sheltered work and training schemes.

T h e s e approaches have been developed over a number of years and have been effective in keeping youth, and other unemployment, at very low levels. However, as I had said, there is no doubt that the employment situation has tightened this year and the Committee has been monitoring the position closely

with other interested Committees. Basically, people can no longer walk into jobs with little or no

qualifications or skills. It is for this reason that we have put so much emphasis on training and skill development.

As with any programmes, they have to adapt with the changing times, and we are currently working with TEP and the Careers Service at the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and others to develop a new programme which can provide further help to improve the employability of all individuals who are finding it difficult to secure a job.