A council funded advice service has helped slash the number of unemployed young people in Liverpool by 27 percent.
The number of 16 – 19 year olds Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) fell from 1,803 to 1,308 from November 2011 to December 2012.
The reduction means just eight in every one hundred young people in the city are now unemployed.
The Greater Merseyside Connexions information and advice service was re-launched in April 2012.
It now operates from locations around the city, including council buildings, youth centres and a mobile bus, in 10 priority areas. Staff are on hand at key times such as career options events, school leaving times, exam results days and recruitment fairs.
And there is a dedicated telephone helpline and an interactive careers website for young people, parents and teachers to find out about opportunities and support across Merseyside.
Councillor Steve Munby, Cabinet member for living environment and localism, said: “These are really encouraging figures, especially when you consider the difficult economic environment.
“Being in work or training is essential for every young person, and that is why we are committed to helping as many as we can.
“It’s really important that we focus on the areas of the city where we know there are high numbers of young people who are not in employment, education or training so we are getting to those who need our help the most.
“We have had huge success getting hundreds of people on to the first rung of the employment ladder through our various apprenticeship schemes, so there are opportunities out there, even in these difficult times.”
“Rather than waiting for people to come through the door, we now actively go out and seek young people and go to the places where we know they are.”
The city council’s Cabinet will this Friday (22 March) be asked to agree to continue the contract.
The website for the service is www.merseyinteractive.com, and the helpline number is 0800 012 6606
