Children's services
Plans to tackle unemployment figures for young people in Walsall
Published on
The Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee will discuss the council’s approach to post-16 employment and skills at a committee meeting later today.
The meeting, taking place on Thursday 15 February, includes a report which outlines the council’s post-16 employment and skills service, and will provide an update on a forthcoming Walsall Skills strategy.
Members will be asked to review the current provisions, whilst reviewing data which outlines how Walsall compares regionally and nationally, regarding young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
13.8 percent of young people in England aged 18-24 were NEET in 2023, and 9.2 percent of Walsall’s young people are claiming unemployment-related benefits. This is higher than the UK average of 5 percent.
The report identifies some of the long-lasting impacts being unemployed at a young age can have upon people. Spending time unemployed under the age of 23 has been linked to lower wages even twenty years on, and those who are NEET before the ages of 18-19 are 20 percent more likely to be unemployed ten years later.
Walsall Council’s employment and skills service works collaboratively with partners such as the West Midlands Combined Authority, local employers, partners, and training providers to address the challenges and ensure every Walsall resident over the age of 16 has the opportunity to learn, thrive and reach their fullest potential.
The council’s employment and skills service predominantly supports young people who are NEET, providing them with quality careers advice and employability support to help them source work.
As part of the service, the council launched Walsall Works in 2012, to provide support for economically inactive people who are currently not working, unemployed benefit claimants who are actively seeking employment, those who are employed in low-waged jobs and those with an aspiration through developing workplace skills.
“ The data shows that unemployment figures of young people are a national issue, but also a local one for us in Walsall, that has worsened since the pandemic.
Our employment and skills service is there to support our young people build a future of aspiration, and gives them practical skills and tools to boost their employability, receive advice about possible career paths and get help from a wide range of support from the team with things like job applications and interviews.
This is a fundamental, yet non-statutory service the council is delivering to support young people in the best way possible, which is a great example of the council’s continued investment and commitment to creating opportunities for our young people to succeed. I look forward to discussing the paper with members of the committee
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You can watch the Education and Overview Scrutiny committee meeting on the Walsall Council website: https://cmispublic.walsall.gov.uk/cmis/
