Conservative Party: Government vows to get the young back into work

Ministers will today pledge to tackle youth unemployment which grew under Labour.

A £60m commitment for vulnerable young people, a boost to apprenticeships and radical reforms to transform vocational education are part of a series of measures designed to tackle the barriers that stop some young people from finding work.

It comes as over 100 large companies and tens of thousands of small companies around the country have responded to the Government's call and pledged to offer work experience places.

In total the Government will provide funding for up to 250,000 more Apprenticeships over the next four years, and funding for 100,000 more work placements over the next two years than would have happened under Labour.

The measures outlined today are designed to ensure that young people have the opportunity to get work to support economic growth, to advance their career prospects and encourage social mobility and help fill some of the 500,000 vacancies currently in the job market.

Prime Minister David Cameron said,

"This is about more than getting our economy back on track. It's about more than improving the jobless numbers. It's about changing people's lives. Showing our young people we believe in them and backing that faith with action.

"It's time to reverse the trend of rising youth unemployment that has held back our country for far too long and help our young people get the jobs on which their future – and ours – depends.

"But government can't act alone. We need employers who are prepared to give young people a go. So I'm delighted that over 100 large companies and tens of thousands of small and medium sized enterprises have already responded to our call for work experience placements so that tens of thousands of young people can take those vital first steps in experiencing the world of work."