The Welsh Labour Government’s Jobs Growth Wales scheme is failing to help young people who are long-term unemployed, according to Eluned Parrott AM.
Figures revealed by the Welsh Liberal Democrats show that, as of April 2014, only 507 of young people completing a Jobs Growth Wales placement had been unemployed for more than 12 months.
As of April 2014, there were 3,120 people aged 18-24 who had been claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance in Wales for more than 12 months. This figure rises to 6,490 when considering those claiming JSA for more than 6 months.
Young people participating in the UK Government’s Work Programme are also barred from access to Jobs Growth Wales placements due to a disputed claim that they would be ‘double-funded’ by European Union funding.
Eluned Parrott AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Business, said:
“Welsh Labour’s myth that Jobs Growth Wales is the answer to all our problems is being busted. It’s appalling that only 5% of those young people on Jobs Growth Wales were long-term unemployed, when there are still thousands of young people in Wales who’ve been out of a job for more than a year.
“Young people who have taken up an offer of help and support from the Coalition Government’s Work Programme are also being barred from Jobs Growth Wales on a disputed claim that they would be ‘double-funded’ by European money.
“Long-term youth unemployment is a blight, not only for our society at large but also on the lives of the young people concerned, yet the Welsh Labour Government is overlooking these young people completely. Why isn’t the Welsh Labour Government targeting its efforts to help the most disadvantaged and disengaged young people out of benefits and into work?”
