Recently released figures from the Office for National Statistics indicate that unemployment continues to increase in the UK. People ages 16-24, in particular, are among the hardest hit demographic as they struggle to break into the job market for the first time. The numbers tell a depressing story for the country’s youth, as the unemployment rate within this age group was reported to be as high as 20.5% — a striking contrast to the much lower overall unemployment figure of 7.5%. While comparative records only began in 1991, these latest figures show the highest level of youth unemployment ever recorded.
However, not all job sectors experienced unemployment equally, and one of the job sectors least affected was occupations such as electricians and plumbers. As a result, many young people from all backgrounds are turning to apprenticeship and apprenticeship courses to help them launch in their exciting new careers. Compared to increasingly expensive undergraduate degrees, vocational courses with their emphasis on practical skills and work experience are a cost-effective option that has proven attractive to many.
The benefits of the youth vocational course have not been taken away from the eyes of the coalition government, which has pledged around £222m to help encourage and foster growth in this area. This significant capital investment comes amid a broader context of government budget cuts that show how strongly the government is committed to encouraging young people to engage in vocational training.
What are vocational training programmes?
Vocational training schemes, eg Electrician trainingThese are generally skills-based courses with an emphasis on job-related skills and practical knowledge. To provide you with a solid working knowledge of your chosen career path, vocational training courses are possible in a wide range of job-related areas, including:
Electrician training
· Law
· education
Nursing
An apprenticeship offers training alongside actual work on the job, which means you gain vital work experience while simultaneously learning. This is a great path to the workplace and to a new, long and fulfilling career.
Other vocational schemes are center based and learn skills that lead to certain qualifications required by the industry such as City and Guilds approved electrician qualifications. By training for qualifications like these, young people and the long-term unemployed gain vocational skills that can prepare them for a career for life. Jobs and trades, such as electrical work, plumbing, and gas installation, are essential to any global economy and will likely be in demand as long as people continue to live in homes.