Work experience and training opportunities snapped up across the West Midlands.
Jobseekers across the West Midlands have taken part in more than 55,000 voluntary employer-led placements or work experience through Jobcentre Plus since January 2011, new figures published today reveal.
More than seven in ten were young people, using the schemes to increase their skills and experience to help them move into work, as recent figures show the number of young people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance is now at its lowest since the 1970s.
Employment Minister Esther McVey said: “The young people I meet tell me that they need work experience to get a job – but they need a job to get work experience. That’s why we hugely expanded our schemes, which have now benefitted nearly half a million people, helping them to get their foot on the career ladder.
“With youth unemployment falling by a fifth in the last year, we are making sure this country’s young people get the best possible start to their working lives, giving them the opportunity to build a career and perhaps go on to be the employers of the future.
“Record numbers of people are now in work – with the majority of the rise in the last year being full time job – and they are feeling more secure about having a steady income, and we are working closely with employers across the country to ensure jobseekers have the skills and experience that businesses need.”
Today’s figures show that jobseekers in the West Midlands have taken part in over 35,360 Work Experience placements organised through Jobcentre Plus, which is a voluntary scheme where people can do a placement of between two to eight weeks with a local employer. Additionally, over 19,820 places on Sector-based work academies have been picked up by Jobseekers across the West Midlands- these are voluntary employer-led schemes run in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus made up of pre-employment training, work experience placements and a guaranteed job interview.
