Bernard Durkan
Question:581. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent of youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8817/18]
View answerTuesday, 20 February 2018
Questions (581)
Written answers
Irish youth unemployment has fallen from a peak of 31.2% in 2012 to 13.7% in January 2018. Irish youth unemployment has thus fallen from well above the EU average in 2012 (23%) to well below the current figure EU figure of 19.1%. The long-term unemployment rate for young people has fallen from over 15% at peak to below 4% in the third quarter of 2017.
Youth unemployment figures can be expected to fall further this year in line with the continuing forecast fall in overall unemployment. Additionally, Ireland is on course to bring youth unemployment below 12% and long-term unemployment below 2.5% in accordance with Pathways to Work targets for 2020.
These trends indicate that together with improvements in the labour market and economic recovery, our approach to youth employment, which focuses in the first instance on enhancing processes and policies for assisting young unemployed people to find and secure sustainable jobs, has been relatively successful.
Under the Youth Guarantee process case officers engage with unemployed young people, on a monthly basis, to prepare and implement personal progression plans for employment. Where young people do not find work quickly, additional supports are offered through places on employment and training schemes.
As part of this range of opportunities, later this year I will be introducing a new work experience programme targeted exclusively at young jobseekers who are long-term unemployed and face a significant barrier to gaining employment.
The Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) will provide young job seekers with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. Host Organisations will be encouraged to hire participants who have performed well and will qualify for a financial subsidy under JobsPlus Youth. YESS will compliment other initiatives such as the expanded range of Apprenticeships and Career Traineeships. Operational details are currently being finalised and I hope to launch the Scheme in Q.2, 2018.
I am confident that these measures, and continuing economic recovery, will support further reductions in youth unemployment and add to the substantial improvements that have already been seen over the last few years.