‘Multiple overlapping barriers’ are making it harder for many young people to get a job in Lincolnshire, officials have said.
Bosses said the rural nature of the county and a lack of public transport are among some of the reasons behind youth unemployment – and have vowed to tackle the issue, writes Local Democracy Reporter Oliver Castle.
Members of Lincolnshire County Council’s growth scrutiny committee were told that young people are disproportionately affected by the issues – with many 17 to 20 year-olds not having a driving licence due to the costs involved in learning to drive and buying a vehicle.
At a meeting on Tuesday May 12, Alex Nightingale, skills delivery manager and careers hub lead, said: “Youth unemployment in Lincolnshire is not necessarily about a lack of provision – instead the challenge is more complex.
“Outcomes for young people are shaped by structural place-based factors.
“That includes our rural geography, transport limitations and an economy dominated by small and micro businesses.
“This means that many young people who want to work are still facing multiple overlapping barriers – whether that’s confidence in their own mental health, affordability or simply navigating what can be a very complicated system.”
Coun Matthew Boles said that local businesses are telling him that they face too much paperwork and this impacts on their ability to give young people a job.
He added: “When I’m speaking to businesses in my area, they’re telling me that the sort of barriers to taking youth on to apprenticeships and placements is the complexity, the capacity to be able to do the paperwork.
“So, when we’re talking about the partnership working and working with people, what practical steps are we taking to reduce that bureaucracy from those small businesses who don’t have the capacity to do it but would love to take some youths on as employees?”
Mr Nightingale responded to say that the county council was planning to “collaborate with other employers” in a bid to provide younger people with better connections to employers.
Coun Tom Dyer said that the county council should be “maximising” the amount of apprenticeships on offer and showcase what the authority is doing to address the issue.
He added: “So, for instance, with the Hykeham Relief Road, Balfour Beatty is the lead contractor and they’ve reached out to colleges and training providers and they’re supporting them with training opportunities, on-site work experience as well.
“All of that adds into what this council is doing to support young people in gaining qualifications and to hopefully get a career in whatever they want to achieve.
“It would be amazing if we, as this committee, could understand what this council is doing and are at every opportunity supporting young people wherever possible.”
Justin Brown, assistant director of growth, said the issues for youth employment are ‘complex’ and that the council is developing a plan to address the matter.
This includes improving youth employment programmes and employer engagement and creating clearer and more accessible routes to help young people to get into work.
