10 April 2015

As part of their education manifesto, Labour have planned to provide face-to-face advice from trained careers advisers to all college and secondary school pupils.

The Confederation for British Industry (CBI) director John Cridland has criticised the state of the UK’s careers advice services since the coalition came to power, calling it a system on “life support”.

The unemployment rate for 19-24 year olds stands at 14.4 percent, compared to 5.7 percent for the rest of the population – its worst in 20 years. While its not as dire as youth unemployment in Spain, which stands at more than 50 percent, the recession and austerity has severely damaged the prospects of Britain’s young people. And Iain Duncan Smith’s response to this state of affairs? To force those out of work to pick up litter or other community service in exchange for benefits.

Wages for those in their 20s are down £1,800 than when the coalition came to power.

The jobs market is increasingly challenging and demanding. Jobs which were entry-level twenty years ago now require degrees and other qualifications. The wearing away of employment rights mean job security and longevity is a growing concern.

In this climate, it is imperative that young people are given the best advice possible to prepare them for what awaits them on leaving education.

David Cameron however responded by cutting careers services by up to 50 percent in some areas, scrapping face-to-face careers advice. The 2011 Education Act left careers guidance up to individual schools rather than local authorities, which the Education Committee described as “regrettable”, on assessing the results in 2013. It said that changes to the service provision had lead to a “worrying deterioration”, and that it was concerned by “the consistency, quality, independence and impartiality of careers guidance now being offered to young people”.

What has been consistent however is the Conservatives’ refusal to acknowledge the severity of the situation. Responding to the Committee’s criticisms, the best Michael Gove could offer was that there was ’no evidence’ that the coalition had made ‘a bad situation worse’.

The lack of a quality careers service is impairing the chances of thousands of young people going into an already abysmal labour market.

Ed Miliband yesterday (9 April) pledged to reinstate the compulsory work experience for 14 to 16-year-olds that the coalition have abolished. He has also committed to force schools to end the “outrageous snobbery” around apprenticeships.