According to a new poll carried out by Action for Children, half of young people in Newcastle feel they are ‘unemployable.’
Additionally, one in seven of 15 to 26-year-olds in the city believe they can never have the career they want. A quarter of young people said the job market was too competitive and there weren’t enough jobs.
Carol Iddon, Action for Children’s director of children’s services across the North of England, said: “A job is more than just ‘what you do’, it is a part of who you are and gives people a sense of worth. Young people across Newcastle have told us they don’t feel employable, and feel uncertain, lack confidence and are not getting the support and advice they need.”
To rectify this, the charity has teamed up with Barclays to launch ‘Skills for Success’, a nationwide project that aims to equip young people with the basic skills and knowledge to help them into employment or training.
Kathleen Britain, head of UK community investment at Barclays, said: “Our insights show that young people are daunted by the competitiveness of today’s job market and struggle to find the right support, career advice and mentoring to move forward. That’s why we are committed to equipping the next generation with the training they need to build a brighter future for themselves and their families through the Skills for Success programme.”
