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The start of 2014 showed some promise with unemployment figures decreasing in the UK. The number of people out of work in the UK fell by 63,000 to 2.33 million which is definitely a positive sign, however 17.9% of young people aged 16-24 who aren’t in full time education are still unemployed. The figures show there are more opportunities for employment, however it may be difficult for young people to capitalise on them and secure a job if they aren’t fully prepared for what’s ahead of them.

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It should be part of a school’s remit to develop pupils’ self-belief, perseverance and resilience, according to advice from a cross-parliamentary group, supported by the CBI. The group suggested that a school needs to be more than just an ‘exam factory’, and that students should leave their education as well rounded individuals, equipped and ready to face the challenges that lie ahead of them.

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It’s been reported that shortages of skills in the UK might prevent businesses from being able to take advantage of the economic recovery. Having surveyed 91,000 employers, The UK Commission for Employment and Skills found that more than one in 5 vacancies were due to a poor skills base in potential employees. The problem of inadequate skills, qualifications or experience is worse in some sectors than others, with construction, plumbing and Health and Social Care being some of the areas affected.

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At first glance the ONS (Office for National Statistics) figures for employment, covering the last three months, are encouraging, showing a drop of 39,000 in the number of 16 – 24 year olds out of work in the UK. However if we look at the figures for the last twelve months they have in fact risen from 894,000 to 902,000. Meanwhile, McKinsey & Company’s recently published report Education to employment: Getting Europe’s youth into work (January 2014) claims that youth unemployment is nothing new and has been as high as triple the rate of general unemployment in Europe for the last 20 years.

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The Prince’s Trust charity has called for ‘better training and support to get young people jobs and avoid mental health problems.’ This follows research from the charity which says that 40% of young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) have experienced mental health problems. The trust says that almost a third of long-term unemployed young people have contemplated taking their own lives and urgent action must be taken to prevent the young jobless becoming the young hopeless.

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The government has recently published an implementation plan called The Future of Apprenticeships in England which will give employers a stronger power in the design and delivery of Apprenticeships. These plans are a result of the Holt and Richard Review of Apprenticeships, which took place last year. All Apprenticeships that fall under the current framework will be replaced with new qualifications written by employers and other professional bodies. The new qualifications will have a minimum 12 month duration, with no exceptions.

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MEPs have made a number of recommendations to tackle the issue of youth unemployment, advising that we’re in need of further measures to help young people move into work. ‘Youth guarantee’ schemes currently aim to ensure that young people under the age of 25 are offered a job, training, or a traineeship within 4 months of becoming unemployed. MEPs have now proposed that these schemes should be extended to include graduates under 30 years old.

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As we adapt education approaches to the 21st century landscape, we’ve all started to challenge our thinking about how learning can be facilitated. With this in mind, distance and blended learning is becoming an increasingly viable option, extending opportunities for people who are looking to progress their skills in a fluid and flexible way. Learners are able to work at their own convenience and pace, taking control and fitting their learning into their lifestyle rather than having to follow a tight schedule of classroom based studying. This is particularly beneficial for those who are learning while they’re earning, trying to balance training and a job.

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With the education watchdog Ofsted recently stating that schools’ career services are not up to standard, I thought I’d start this issue by focusing on their recent comments. According to Sir Michael Wilshaw, three quarters of schools visited by Ofsted were reportedly not delivering effective careers advice. He commented last month that, "It’s worrying that the new arrangements are failing to provide good guidance." Of course while this situation may be true, it’s also true that these comments come at a time when money and resource to support careers guidance have come under increasing pressure.

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In direct contrast to last year, Apprenticeships and the ‘Skills Gap’ are very much at the forefront of political thinking at the moment, as a solution to the 1 million + unemployed young people. They’ve been discussed more this conference season than ever before! Terms like ‘parity of esteem’ between vocational and academic qualifications, and ‘employer input and ownership’ are on the lips of politicians across the traditional political divide.

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Blog posts for tag:employability

The employability mindset

Preparing learners with an employable mindset

UK skills shortages

An insight into employment statistics: The McKinsey report

Preventing the young jobless becoming the young hopeless

The future of Apprenticeships

Ensuring good quality traineeships

Blended and distance learning

Careers advice: helping pupils get on the right course

Headlines from the Party Conference Season

Authors

Lindsay Plumpton

David Grailey

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

Esme Winch

Michael Lemin

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Blog posts for tag:employability

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Authors

Lindsay Plumpton

David Grailey

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

Esme Winch

Michael Lemin

Categories

Archive