More than 2,000 apprentices will not get qualifications

MORE than 2,000 young people who have almost completed apprenticeships will not get qualifications next year as expected because they are unable to secure work placements.

The Labour Party is calling on the Government to ensure all building projects paid for by the state use a certain number of apprentices on work placements so they can get qualifications in the trades they have trained for.

New figures from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, show that, of those due to complete their apprenticeships in the next six to 12 months, 2,365 are unable to get work placements which are necessary for qualifications in their trades.