During Rishi Sunak’s speech on 17th April announcing a review to tackle a perceived ‘anti-maths mindset’, Movement to Work announced that they will seek to help young people step onto the career ladder by working with employers to provide jobs and training to address youth unemployment. 

Movement to Work, a voluntary collaboration of UK employers, provide work placements that combine employability skills training with on-the-job experience.

The state of youth unemployment in the UK continues to be a cause for concern and there remain signs that it has been steadily falling.

According to recent reports, the youth unemployment rate in the United Kingdom was 10.8 percent in January 2023, a decline when compared with the same period of 2022. Approximately 21.3 per cent of those aged between 16 and 17 were unemployed in this month, with the recent rate of 35.5 per cent in May 2021 the highest unemployment rate for this age group since 2014.

I welcome Movement to Work’s announcement. By providing jobs and training opportunities, young people can acquire the skills and experiences they need to succeed in the job market. Looking at the wider picture, it also helps to build a more skilled and diverse workforce, which is essential for driving economic growth.

Employers have a crucial role to play and are uniquely positioned to provide young people with the experience and training they need to succeed in their careers. By partnering with these businesses, governments and other organisations can create job opportunities and apprenticeships that offer young people a clear path to the world of work.

For young people, the benefits of such initiatives are clear. They gain access to real-world experience and training that prepares them for the challenges of the job market. They also gain an understanding of the specific skills and qualities that employers are looking for, which can help them tailor their career goals and job applications.

But employers also stand to benefit from these initiatives. Through training and apprenticeship opportunities, they can access a pool of young, talented and motivated workers who are eager to learn and develop their skills. This not only helps to address skills shortages but can also help to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

Of course, there are challenges to be overcome in implementing such initiatives. Employers may be hesitant to take on inexperienced workers or may lack the resources to provide adequate training and support. Governments and other organisations can help to address these challenges by providing incentives, funding, and other forms of support to employers who participate in such initiatives.

At Pertemps, we believe that every young person and adult should have the option of a high-quality route in education, employment, or training. We are working with Levelling Up to close the gaps that still exist within disadvantaged communities, by improving the quality of lives through sustainable and meaningful employment opportunities.

We can create a more skilled and diverse workforce that is better equipped to face the challenges of the future. We all need to work together to create a brighter future for our young people and our economy.