Employers help to tackle youth unemployment

THOUSANDS OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

- BY GURDIP THANDI Local Democracy Reporter

EMPLOYERS have pledged thousands of training opportunities for young people in a bid to tackle the West Midlands high youth unemployment rate.

Figures released by the West Midlands Combined Authority showed 16,000 work experience, apprenticeship and training placements have been made available by businesses across the region.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker launched his Youth Plan last summer and set a target of creating 20,000 opportunities over the next three years.

He said there are around 29,000 young people classed as unemployed in the West Midlands but the rate is double the national average in some areas including Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Walsall.