More young people take up work experience since Youth Contract launch

Figures released in parliament show that in April and May this year young people started 9,870 work experience placements – averaging 4,935 a month.

This compares to an average of 3,109 a month for the period between January 2011 the end of November 2011, according to Department for Work and Pensions statistics.

Meanwhile, the number of young people embarking on the government's sector-based work academy scheme has also increased, with 2,410 in April and May, averaging 1,205 a month.

This compares to 3,400 in the first four months of the scheme from August 2011 to the end of November 2011 – an average of 850 a month.

Sector-based work academies provide accredited, sector-specific pre-employment training and work experience for unemployed young people.

Under the Youth Contract, which launched in April, the government pledged to create extra work experience places to ensure there is an offer of a place for every 18- to 24-year-old who wants one, before they enter the Work Programme.

The youth charity Rathbone welcomed the increase in young people taking up work experience.

A spokesman for Rathbone said: “The most common complaint we hear from young jobseekers is that they can’t compete in the employment market because they don’t have the necessary experience, so an increase in work placement opportunities is a positive step forward.

“It is important, though, that the work experience is of good quality and helps the young person to progress to employment.

“We believe that those on work experience should be able to achieve elements of an apprenticeship to reward their efforts and we are working through Fair Train, the group training association of the third sector, to achieve this aim.”