At this weekend’s Scottish Liberal Democrat party conference Katy successfully proposed a motion at this weekend’s which provides clear, practical steps to ensure that Scotland’s young people do not become ‘the lost generation’ in the labour market. The motion was passed unanimously.
Despite the government’s claims that the economy is gradually showing signs of recovery, unemployment continues to rise for young people, with over a third of unemployed people under the age of 25.
Speaking at conference in Perth, Katy said:
“There is a real danger now that the biggest fallout from the credit crisis is the creation of a lost generation of young people who never make the transition from school, college or university into work…
There is no doubt about it: unemployment hurts. Bankers focused on their bonuses should stop and think: where will the productive workers of tomorrow come from if we don’t look after the skill levels of the future workforce today?”
The Liberal Democrats want to create a fairer society, where every child gets a fair start. That includes a fair start in the job market. This means giving young people meaningful employment experiences, whether through paid internships, a faster route into apprenticeships or access to practical, personal development programmes.
