The creation of 322 new jobs for unemployed young people along the North Wales coast area as part of the UK government’s Future Jobs Fund has been welcomed by First Minister Rhodri Morgan.
The £1billion Future Jobs Fund, managed by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), aims to create 150,000 jobs across the United Kingdom until 2011, targeting primarily 18-24 year olds who have been out of work for around 12 months.
First Minister Rhodri Morgan said:
“DWP has allocated £2million to Rhyl City Strategy Partnership enabling it to create 322 new jobs in construction, retail, health and social care over 18 months across the Conwy and Denbighshire City strategy area. The Football League Trust, also awarded funding through the Future Jobs Fund, will create between two and four jobs in Wales.
“Today’s announcement of a further 300 jobs comes on top of the 2,000 jobs announced for Wales out of the Future Jobs Fund in July. As the Fund rolls out further in the coming months I expect to see more real employment opportunities being created here in Wales, helping to break the cycle of reduced opportunities for young persons that happens in every recession. It is the under 25s who suffer most in any recession because they have not yet had the chance to get as fully engaged in the jobs as the over 25s.
“There can be little doubt that we still face challenging economic times. It’s therefore exceptionally important that through schemes like the Future Jobs Fund, and our highly successful ProAct and ReAct initiatives we ensure as many people as possible stay actively engaged in the labour market and take up training opportunities so when the economic upturn happens, as it will, Wales is up and running and highly competitive.”
Education Minister Jane Hutt also welcomed the news saying:
“It is crucial that we create sustainable employment for young people in Wales.
“The Future Jobs Fund, as part of our Young Person’s Guarantee, is helping provide young people with jobs with a future, while giving them access to training opportunities to protect their futures and the future of our economy.”
