According to a new CBI report, Britain ranks 23rd out of 28th in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s league table of young people not in education, employment or training - 'NEETs' as they're now known. And the CBI goes as far as to blame the country's approach to its youth for the decline in society as a whole, saying that 'Britain's failure to get young people off the streets and into work leaves them vulnerable to becoming involved in crime, to ill health and a life at the margins of society as the people that prosperity forgot.'
Government figures show that 20% of men and 8% of women who had been NEET aged 16-18 became involved in crime between the ages of 17 and 30, three times the rate among all young people. And female NEETs are 22 times more likely than average to be teenage mothers, while 25% of them are in poor health by the age of 21, compared to a national average of 15%.
So far, so predictable. But what does this have to do with the business world, apart from leaving us a tiny bit more nervous about using public transport after dark? Well, these disaffected youth are the employees - or 'should-be employees' of the future. Says John Cridland, deputy director-general at the CBI, "This is not just an issue of so many school leavers failing to achieve the expected minimum of five good GCSEs after 11 years of full-time education. This is about the UK churning out thousands of young people without the basic skills and attitudes they need to make their way in the world".
So what are employers to do? And why should they have to do anything at all - shouldn't this be the responsibility of parents and teachers?
Comments (2)
Posted by Chris Banks | October 29, 2008 3:23 PM
At the Learning and Skills Council, we support the CBI’s call to get as many people into work as possible, especially those who have previously disengaged from learning. To help these young people, we have programmes which offer flexible provision, tailored to the needs of individuals. And we have the Get On campaign to encourage the millions of people who experience difficulties with literacy, language and numeracy skills to enrol on one of the hundreds of free courses across the country.
Learning new skills will not only help individuals realise their own talents but make them more employable now, and more likely to progress upwards in the future. For employers, the backdrop of an uncertain economic outlook means having the right skills inside a business ensures it stays versatile and adaptable.
Training is a valuable resource, unlocking employees’ talents and increasing business productivity, and so we’ve just announced a number of strategies to help smaller businesses and organisations combat the credit crunch through Train to Gain.
Posted on October 29, 2008 15:23
Posted by David Adair | October 29, 2008 3:25 PM
There is a vital role for business in proactively sharing the business skills we take for granted at the earliest opportunity for children.
At PwC we have programmes in primary schools improving literacy and numeracy skills and providing positive role models from the business world to help children see business as part of the community not apart from the community at an early age.
Young people sometimes find it hard to engage with formal learning, which is why business support of the creative arts such as theatre are also well established route to building their confidence and team working skills.
In Southwark, for example, where 40% of the school population are from minority ethnic backgrounds and English is an additional language, we work in partnership with Shakespeare's Globe using the themes of Shakespeare’s plays to inspire and motivate both Primary and Secondary school students who take over the theatre each year for 'Our Theatre’. All is not lost if a young person falls through the cracks.
Partnerships with charities such as The Prince's Trust, Common Purpose and Tomorrow’s People provide vital mentoring and work experience through which business can and must inspire and motivate young people to succeed and become ready for the world of work.
Posted on October 29, 2008 15:25