Welsh Conservatives have called for the effectiveness of Labour-Plaid’s multi-million pounds Skill Build programme to be reviewed.
It follows the release of figures showing far less than a quarter of unemployed youth learners found work within six months of leaving the scheme.
Skill Build is aimed at the unemployed and consists largely of 16-18 year olds. It has cost taxpayers £128 million over the last three financial years, including 2010/11.
In 2008, the £35.2 million programme had 10,890 youth learners enrolled.
According to WAG figures just 1,837 entered employment within six months of leaving.
While around the same number were officially classed as unemployed, everyone else within this age bracket either started further learning or entered “other non-specific destinations”.
Statistical outcomes have not been released for 2009/10 but the programme cost taxpayers £48.4 million during this financial year. £36.5 million was allocated to youth learners.
The figures were obtained by Shadow Minister for Finance Nick Ramsay AM.
He said: “In 2008 alone, many millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money resulted in less than two thousand 16 to 18 year olds finding employment off the back of this scheme.
“What’s just as disappointing is that the Assembly does not keep figures on what type of work was achieved. Many positions may only have been part-time.
“That is not value for money and we need to think about more effective ways of obtaining better results with this money.”
Shadow Minister for Education, Paul Davies AM, said: “While it is clear we must find ways to help young people into work, the Skill Build programme needs to be reassessed.
“The private company that delivers it is pocketing huge amounts of money every year. That has got to be justified by turning young lives around and obtaining comparable results.
“If not, as in 2008, it is clear that this money could be better spent elsewhere. For example, more cuts to business rates would allow small companies to reinvest and create jobs.
“Other options must be debated and carefully considered.”
