Prospects aren’t looking too bad for contractors at the moment, but unfortunately the UK’s young people are still struggling to find employment.
Albert Ellis, from recruiter Harvey Nash, has echoed the calls of the CBI for the government to provide tax breaks for companies that hire young people.
The UK has nearly 1 million unemployed youngsters and the CBI wants the government to waive the first £1,500 of an employers National Insurance bill in return for hiring a jobless 16-24 year old.
Ellis says this would effectively mean that for every ten young adults a company takes on, it gets one free. He went on to say that his own company would take on additional graduates if the tax break were implemented.
Furthermore, Ellis believes that employers would take on more young people if the National Minimum Wage were frozen.
The REC has also been a long-term proponent of a National Insurance holiday for small businesses.
Kevin Green, the chief executive of the REC, was recently engaged in discussions with the business and enterprise minister, Mark Prisk. Green explained that the REC has been asked to draw up proposals to encourage companies to hire young people.
The Confederation will continue to push for government action, as well as showcasing the positive role recruiters play through the REC’s Youth Employment Charter. Nearly 100 REC members have already signed up to the Charter, which aims to work with schools and colleges to raise awareness of the opportunities available to the future workforce.
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Image: Togetherness by Steve-h
