A £1bn government scheme to create tens of thousands of jobs and internships for unemployed young people is launched today.
The future jobs fund, announced by Alistair Darling in April's budget, will create tens of thousands of jobs in sectors such a social care, education, tourism and sport. Ministers say it will ensure that we do not "lose a generation" to the recession.
It will also create around 10,000 internship and work placement opportunities for 18 - 21 year olds who have not been to university, as well as job clubs and a mentoring network.
The first 47,000 jobs of the scheme, costing £300m, are launched today. Vacancies to be filled will include sport coaches, classroom assistants, and social carers.
This week will also see the launch of a website promoting 2,000 internships available to graduates, with another 4,000 to be advertised in the coming weeks.
Yvette Cooper, the work and pensions secretary, said: "We are determined not to lose a generation of talent because of the recession. Many young people were denied the help they needed in the recessions of the 80s and 90s, ending up out of work for months and years. Too many never got a start in the jobs market."
The downturn has had a particularly bad impact on young people's job prospects. Figures released in June showed that 16.6% of people aged 18 - 24 were out of work, the highest for 15 years. This is expected to rise further as thousands leave school, college, and university.
The scheme is primarily aimed at those aged 18 - 24 who have been out of work for a year or more. Companies can bid for funding to help create jobs lasting at least six months which can be set up quickly and will improve local communities, such as refurbishing council houses, or helping with local recycling projects.
Critics have accused the government of deepening the debt crisis with these measures. Susie Squire of the Taxpayers' Alliance said: "The public sector has failed to cut back in the recession. Soft jobs like these would be indulgent even in good economic times let alone in the current climate."
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