asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware of the reluctance of Irish companies, most of which are State-assisted, to employ graduates without post-graduate experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna——Questions. Oral Answers. - Graduate Employment.
13.
I am aware that graduates without post-graduate experience frequently have problems in obtaining employment in Irish industry.
The National Manpower Service includes graduate vacancies in its canvass of employers and endeavours to place graduates in suitable employment.
One of the major obstacles in the employment of graduates is their lack of experience of the actual work situation.
AnCO, the industrial training authority, have been providing a junior management development course at the Dublin training centre which has been attended mainly by graduates without industrial experience. The course is designed to help the participants in making the transition to employment in industry and to give them basic industrial experience and thus enhance their employment prospects. The course is still at the pilot stage and may be extended to other centres outside Dublin. So far 60 trainees have completed or started the course, of whom 56 were graduates. Thirty-two are at present in training. Placement results of those who have completed the course have been good and some obtained suitable employment without finishing the course at all.
The levy-grant scheme also operated by AnCO for the engineering industry contains a provision for incentives to encourage the recruitment of recent graduates and undergraduates.