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Dr Caroline Smith, TUC

Strengthening Young Adults’ Participation in the labour market and policy making – a trade union perspective. Dr Caroline Smith, TUC. Young people: UK Picture. 77% of 17 year olds in learning - UK 24 th out of 30 in OECD 27% of 16-17 year olds unemployed

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Dr Caroline Smith, TUC

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  1. Strengthening Young Adults’ Participation in the labour market and policy making – a trade union perspective Dr Caroline Smith, TUC

  2. Young people: UK Picture • 77% of 17 year olds in learning - UK 24th out of 30 in OECD • 27% of 16-17 year olds unemployed • 10% of 16-18 year olds not in employment, education or training (NEET) • 1% long term • 39% of NEETs attained no qualifications at 16 • Expected decline of unskilled jobs to 600,000 by 2020 – 3.2M now

  3. Key education routes • ‘A levels’ (to 18) • ‘Diplomas’ to begin from 2008 - a new vocational route - 17 different areas - study and work experience • Apprenticeships - ‘earn and learn’ - intermediate skills

  4. Issues • academic and vocational divide - vocational routes often less valued • Little progression from Apprenticeships to higher education • Lack of employer engagement in Apprenticeships and variable quality • Diplomas untested • How to engage ‘NEETs’?

  5. All in learning: Raising participation age to 18 • Compulsory education currently 16 • New government policy for all young people to continue in education or training to 18 (beginning 2015) • Main responsibility on young people • Employers to provide training or release • Doubling of Apprenticeships • Support and enforcement • Importance of advice and guidance!!

  6. Guidance for young people in the UK • Responsibility moved to Local Govt • New quality standards • Universal and targeted support • School career service • ‘Connexions’ targeted at vulnerable young people • Issues • Lack of funding • School league tables create incentive to keep ‘good’ students • Gender stereotyping

  7. Giving young people a voice • Unions and young members • Unions and Apprenticeships • Unions and students

  8. Unions and young members • TUC Young Members Forum – opportunity for young people to influence policy • TUC Young Members Conference determines Forum policy annually • Many unions have similar structures • Activities range from discounted membership to campaigns • TUC ‘Youth Manifesto’ • Mock youth ‘parliament’ events

  9. Unions and Apprenticeships • Influence government policy • Materials to support union involvement in Apprenticeships • Union learning representatives: information and advice to members, building role re apprentices (much more to be done!!) • Young member representatives • TUC mapping union involvement • Apprenticeships campaign

  10. Unions and Students • Student employment up 50% over last 10 years • Memorandum of Understanding with National Union of Students • ‘Unfare’! transport costs a real barrier to education and employment • Trade Unionists in the Classroom • Plans to engage unions in supporting work experience in new Diplomas • Membership while in workplace • Identifying representatives

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