School-leavers not given enough skills to find their first job

Posted by Ardie In Education, News, Politics, Work.

The number of NEETs (people Not in Education, Employment or Training) aged 16-24 who are not in paid work has risen in the past ten years, according to a report published today. The number without any paid work experience at all has risen from 41% in 2001 to 48% in 2007 and 2011.

The report suggests that people leaving school are either unable, or taking longer, to make the first move into work. The author of the report, Dr Paul Sissons, has said that a different set of skills is needed in today’s working environments, and that we are not being taught these skills fully in schools. “For young people without the soft skills needed to access work in these growing sectors,” says Dr Sissons, “finding employment has become increasingly difficult.”

The report is encouraging the government to make sure that school students are given follow-up support as they make their first move into employment, and also to improve services to help those who have already “fallen through the gaps.”

Click on the graph to see it full-size.

16-24s not in employment, education or training who have not had a paid job

This report is in contrast to the story we published last week that more 16-24-year-olds are finding work. This suggests that, even though things may have improved for some in the past few months, there are still a large number of people who were never given enough advice who are now finding themselves without work for a long period, and that these are the ones struggling the most when it come to finding jobs.

Live UnLtd gives people aged 11-21 the opportunity to change their world for the better, learn new skills, and provides funding and support to get projects off the ground. If you want to make a step towards changing things then Live UnLtd could help you to do that. Find out more here.