Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert has called for more action from the UK Government to combat the growing rate of youth unemployment across Britain.
This week, youth unemployment (i.e. the number of 18-24 year-olds out of work) reached its highest level since the early-mid 1990s, when the Conservatives were last in power.
Jeff Cuthbert AM said: “Youth unemployment in the Caerphilly constituency increased by 56 per cent between January and September of this year.
“This is a shameful indictment of the UK Government’s record, cutting spending too fast with little idea of how to get the economy growing again. It’s clear that they’re the same old Tories who see unemployment as a price worth paying.
“The Labour Welsh Government is taking concerted action to get people back into work, get the economy growing again and making sure our workforce has the skills that employers want.
“We have already announced the Welsh Jobs Fund that will create 4000 jobs each year for young people and help them learn new skills. In addition, we are also committed to extending our Pathways to Apprenticeship programme, helping employers take on more apprentices who learn vital on-the-job skills as well as continuing with their education.
“Finally, only this week the Labour Welsh Government announced a £55 million package to help businesses across Wales expand and recruit more staff. This sort of action is vital if we are to protect Wales from Tories’ savage spending cuts.”
