Report calls for actions to cut youth jobless rate

WITH Ireland’s youth unemployment rate now the second highest in western Europe, a report has recommended a number of key measures to get young people back to work.

The study prepared by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is the result of 18 months of consultation with young jobseekers, experts and stakeholders along with research and analysis of existing actions and policies to date.

Ireland’s youth unemployment rate has trebled since 2008 and stands at 24.2% among 15 to 24 year-olds, compared with an average rate of unemployment of 19.9% for the 27 European Union member states in 2009.

The scale of the problem is also masked by a very significant increase in the number of young people re-entering or remaining in education and a considerable increase in the number of young people emigrating.

Speaking at the launch of the report assistant director at the NYCI, James Doorley, said more could be done to address the problem, even with existing resources.

“We accept that there are no easy answers or quick fixes. However, we believe more can be done to assist young jobseekers through the recession,” said Mr Doorley.

“A lot more can be done even with existing resources, but more human and financial resources are required if we are to really tackle the problem and provide young jobseekers with hope and directions.

“The current system is imposing unnecessary hardship on young people and is further driving forced emigration,” said Mr Doorley.

Some of the key recommendations in the report include:

- The creation of youth jobs fund to support social enterprises and community and voluntary organisations.

- Examine the feasibility of a ‘Youth Guarantee’ scheme which operates in the Netherlands.

- Integrate the employment supports in Fás with the benefit function of Department of Social Protection within 12 months.

- Reform benefit application process and reduce current waiting time on decisions of up to three months or more.

- Increase number of staff engaging with jobseekers through redeployment of staff from other areas to meet demand.

- Increase the number of free college places for jobseekers.

Mr Doorley welcomed the commitment made in the Programme for Government to bring forward a jobs budget within 100 days.

However, he said change and reform could not be drawn out and that a road map needs to be put in place as young people cannot afford to wait.