How do you make youth employable?

Database statistics (DORIC) comparing the numbers of unemployment benefit claimants in Warrington in October 2012 and in October 2013 show a reduction of 22%. Some of this may be down to counting methods and government initiatives, but overall it does show that unemployment is falling.

Using the same figures the rate of improvement in Warrington is also better than the rest of the North West and England overall. The country is in recovery. However for Warrington, like many other parts of the country, youth unemployment (ages 16-24) remains an issue. So how do you make youth employable?

Engineering and technology capabilities are in demand. These take time to learn. Construction is an obvious area, where once some basics are learnt people can become useful quite quickly and may move on to up-skill later. There are many jobs available however, that require only a basic education, not craft or technical skills. They require people with the right ‘attitude’.

A positive attitude can have many dimensions; being customer focused, showing initiative, enthusiasm, being enterprising and a positive work ethic. It may be harder to demonstrate than skills and requires confidence to display. Both together will make your employability much stronger.

Professor Lawrence Bellamy is Associate Dean at Warrington School of Management, University of Chester Warrington (Padgate) Campus, Crab Lane, Warrington WA2 0DB.

@ProfLawrenceB @WSofManagement