Youth Employment Report Published

Paper calls for youth unemployment to be cut by 40% by 2020.

The Wood Commission's paper says that should be done by improving links between education and employers, and improving modern apprenticeships for firms and pupils.

The Scottish government's already set aside £12 million to act on the paper, but says it needs the help of local authorities.

Minister for Youth Employment, Angela Constance MSP, said the government's ambitions ambitions go beyond a return to pre-recession levels.

She said: "Our young people are an enormous asset in helping us to achieve our aspiration to strengthen Scotland's economy.

"A substantial amount of activity to help young women and men towards employment is already in place, including our very successful Modern Apprenticeship programme, which has seen over 77,000 new opportunities in the last three years. Opportunities for All also guarantees every 16 to 19 year old the offer of a place in education or training.

“The £12 million we announced earlier this year will help accelerate progress, and we will discuss with our partners in local government how best that is deployed.

Wood Commission key recommendations:

• Youth unemployment should be reduced by 40 per cent
• Enhanced careers education in Primary School
• The opportunity to prepare for a Modern Apprenticeship (MA) in the senior phase of school
• More support for employers to take on young employees
• Closer links between employers and schools and colleges
• Measures to improve gender balance in training
• Measures to remove barriers for young disabled people, care leavers and black and minority ethnic groups taking up training opportunities.

Garry Clark from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, says the group is giving its full support to the report: