Apprenticeships key to unemployment, says chamber
The government needs to encourage businesses to take on apprentices, according to the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG). The call comes as it was revealed unemployment in the West Midlands grew by 10,000 over the past three months.
The number of unemployed people in the region between July and September grew to 234,000, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Almost one in ten (9 per cent) of people in the region are now job hunting.
BCCG said the government needs to now be "more creative" in encouraging businesses to take on apprentices.
Michael Ward, president of the chamber, said the government must look at making it easier for businesses to take on 16 to 24-year-olds by introducing more tax breaks and giving golden handshakes.
He said: "Businesses also need to be convinced of the benefits of taking on apprentices who will usually work harder and stay longer. Unemployment is likely to be long-lasting and youth unemployment which represents 50 per cent of today's unemployment figures needs addressing.
"Jobseekers' Allowance claimant levels in the West Midlands are one per cent above the national average and for every vacancy on their books, there are 7.1 applicants. The government needs to make it easier for companies to employ apprentices who will play a critical role in tackling unemployment."
