Jobs Growth Wales outstrips targets

A Welsh Labour Government programme to get jobless young people into quality employment marked its first anniversary this week with news that it has outstripped its initial job creation target by nearly 50%.

Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Jeff Cuthbert, who is visiting some of the firms and individuals benefiting from Jobs Growth Wales, has announced that the £75m three-year scheme is fast approaching 6,000 new job opportunities created for people aged between 16-24.

Launched in April 2012, the flagship programme funds wages for up to six months to allow employers take on unemployed young people with a view to offer them sustainable posts at the end of the 6 months. The original target was to create 4,000 opportunities each year for three years.

Of the nearly 6,000 job opportunities created so far more than 4,000 have already been filled.

In order to qualify, employers must engage the young people for between 25 and 40 hours a week and they are funded for six months to cover salary and national insurance costs up to minimum wage level. Initial research indicates that around three in every four recruits are kept on at the end of the six months, with many progressing onto formal apprenticeship training.