Job prospects for the young are getting worse

Job prospects for young people who are not in full-time education are deteriorating at an alarming rate, according to a new report.

A new Trades Union Congress study, to be released tomorrow, examines how job prospects for different social groups and backgrounds have changed over the past 17 years.

It claims the outlook for young people not in education or those with poor qualifications, has deteriorated significantly, while job prospects for most other groups improved. Last night the Government slammed the TUC’s report, claiming it was “wrong and misleading”.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “All the mainstream political parties now support unions’ long-held commitment to full employment.

“But with job prospects for many young people, and poorly qualified people of all ages, deteriorating, it will be impossible for any Government to achieve this goal unless radical action is taken.

“Over the last two decades, we’ve learned that strong growth and proper investment in employment programmes can make a huge difference to people’s job chances.

“But ministers seem keener on kicking struggling youngsters when they’re down and removing the safety net they need to learn new skills and find work.

“We need to increase funding for employment programmes, for example by guaranteeing a job or training to any young person who’s been out of work for six months or more. Spending more money on jobs support now will save money in the long run by getting more people in work and paying taxes.”

The report, Equitable Full Employment: A jobs recovery for all, reveals in 1998 three-quarters of young people who weren’t studying were in work, which was higher than the overall 71% employment rate.

By 2005 the rate dropped below the average employment level and has continued to decline since. The study found employment prospects among other groups, including lone parents, disabled people, black and Asian employees and older workers, had improved but they remain less likely to have a job, than the rest of the workforce. Employment minister Esther McVey said: “This report is wrong, misleading and irresponsible in how it talks down young people’s chances in the UK.

“Times have been tough for young people in the jobs market, but we know that they have worked hard to make sure that their prospects are better now than in any other recent recovery.

“Young people who aren’t studying full-time have a higher employment rate than any other group the TUC lists, and it’s a credit to every single young person grasping the opportunities that are out there that they’ve been able to do that and the businesses and local organisations that have supported them.”