Degree course graduates to benefit from government guarantees

26 Jan 2010

Nearly half a million opportunities are to be created for young people.

Hundreds of thousands of opportunities are to be created over the next few months as part of the government''s effort to tackle long-term youth unemployment.

Young people fresh from graduating from degree courses will be guaranteed the offer of a job, training or work experience if unemployed for six months as the government''s new guarantee goes live.

The Young Person''s Guarantee will create up to 470,000 opportunities over the next 15 months and around 100,000 unemployed people are expected to benefit from the scheme straight away.

Opportunities will be created through the £1 billion Future Jobs Fund, although the government called on employers to continue offering jobs, apprenticeships or internships to young people in exchange for support.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said supporting young people is vital because it is "an investment in our future as we build a stronger Britain".

The Office for National Statistics last week revealed a decline in youth unemployment in the three months to November 2009.

Posted by Christopher Comfort