INOU to put early school leavers high on National Partnership Agenda

15 Feb 2006

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) is extremely concerned at the numbers of school leavers who are unemployed according to the ESRI survey of 2004 school leavers. The latest ESRI survey shows that over a fifth of the 2004 school leavers who go directly into the labour force are unemployed, compared with just over a tenth in 1999. The ESRI report provides further evidence that the likelihood of people finding work decreases the earlier they leave school. Almost 70% of school leavers who have no qualifications and who go directly into the workforce are unemployed as are almost 30% who have the Junior Certificate. The ESRI survey also shows however that almost one in six of those who successfully completed their Leaving Certificate in 2004 are unemployed.

“You cannot turn on a radio or television or open up a newspaper without being told that we have full employment. Clearly those statements don’t add up with the very high numbers of school leavers who are unemployed. If we don’t want to live in a society that will virtually condemn early school leavers to a life of unemployment and low paid work, the Government needs to address this urgently” said Mr. Eric Conroy, General Secretary of the INOU.

The recently published NESF report, ‘Creating a more inclusive Labour Market’ provides some useful recommendations to help address some of the difficulties early school leavers face in finding work. The INOU is calling for the introduction of intensive ‘personalised action plans’ tailored to meet the needs of the individual early school leaver. The INOU is also calling for a National Strategic Framework that could more effectively target the resources currently being spent on labour market measures to better assist school leavers.

“As an organisation participating in the National Partnership talks, the INOU will put the employment difficulties faced by early school leavers high on the National Partnership agenda. We will be looking for specific programmes designed to assist school leavers into employment as well as for significant resources to target early school leaving”, Mr. Conroy said.

ENDS
For further information contact
Eric Conroy, INOU General Secretary: 01 856 0088 / 086 3374 874