Youth Council calls on the Government to act now before young workers in vulnerable jobs get their P45’s

This meeting was part of a number held with social partners to discuss a plan of action or “national pact” to address the serious difficulties in the public finances. While it is important that the Government support people who have become unemployed, it is also vital that we invest in supports before people lose their jobs. Many young people left school early to take up jobs in the construction, retail and services sector and unless they get support to retrain or up-skill they will join the many thousands who are currently out of work.

“For too long we have shut the door long after the horse has bolted by only providing support and incentives to young people to return to education and training when they have lost their job. A small bit of support for education and training while people are still at work would give them a much better chance of gaining employment quickly if they are made redundant. It would also save the exchequer a lot of money into the bargain. We are calling on the Government to honour their commitment to establish a fund to assist people with the cost of returning to education and training while still at work as part of any package to address the current downturn in our economy,” stated James Doorley, Assistant Director of NYCI.

In 2007 the Government promised to establish a fund to assist those who wanted to return to education and training part time while still in work, to be targeted at those who did not already have recognised qualifications. This commitment has not been implemented.

In a survey of 1,000 young people aged 18-25 on a range of issues to be published later this year we found that cost was the biggest barrier for them in returning to part-time education or training while still in work. Very little support or assistance is given to people with low levels of recognised qualifications to return to study or training while they are still in employment.

As a result we have a very low rate of participation by workers in education and training while in work compared to other OECD countries. An OECD Report, “Education at a Glance” published in 2007 revealed that only 11% of Ireland’s workforce are engaged in education and training, compared to 39% in Denmark, 27% in the U.K and 19% in Austria. In fact it is even worse, because the vast majority of those engaged in training and education while in work, already have good qualifications. Only 5% or 1 in 20 workers with low level of recognised skills and qualifications are engaged in training, education or upskilling while in work. That was unacceptable during the boom years, but in the midst of a recession it is scandalous to ignore those who need help to endure the impact of the downturn.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Clodagh O’Brien, Communications Officer at the NYCI on 087 781 4903 or 01 425 5955 or email communications@nyci.ie

Notes to Editors:

National Youth Council of Ireland

The National Youth Council of Ireland is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of 56 voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.