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REC questions Employment Minister on careers advice in schools

This morning, the REC heard Employment Minister Chris Grayling MP explain the Government's latest plans for tackling youth unemployment and used the opportunity to raise the critical issue of careers advice in schools. 

At a business breakfast, the Minister explained the recently-launched Youth Contract, which includes a work experience scheme to enable young people to continue claiming Jobseekers Allowance for up to eight weeks; sector-based work academies proving specialised training; wage subsidies for businesses taking on apprentices or hiring young people; and weekly support appointments to help prevent young people from becoming long-term unemployed. 

Gillian Econopouly, the REC's Head of Policy, commented:

"The Youth Contract is a welcome development, given its focus on helping businesses take on young people through fiscal incentives and specialised support. The REC's Youth Employment Taskforce report has called for such initiatives since 2010 and it is good news that the Government is taking targeted action.

"However, we reminded the Minister that properly resourced careers advice and guidance in schools is the still-missing piece of the jigsaw. Whilst the Government's proposals for an all-age careers service is a laudable long-term goal, simply leaving careers advice to individual schools without a proper framework risks re-inventing the youth employment problem for years to come. A structure is needed to embed careers advice within schools and make it easy for businesses to offer their support.

"Without proper attention, careers advice could fall by the wayside in the already-pressurised school environment, leaving young people unprepared for the world of work."

To learn more about the REC's Youth Employment Taskforce or to sign up to its Youth Employment Charter, go to: http://www.rec.uk.com/about-recruitment/externalrelations/youthemploymentcharter