Youth of Lincoln bucks unemployment trends

Although youth unemployment is at an all-time high in the UK, only 1,055 of those aged 16-24 in Lincoln are claiming benefits and 960 apprenticeships were delivered to young people in the 2010/11 academic year.

The total number of those claiming benefits in Lincoln is 3,000.

The Office for National Statistics revealed that the general UK unemployment rate was at its highest since 1994, with 2.62 million people jobless between July and September.

Over one million young people aged 16-24 were out of work in those three months.

Penny Jones, Guidance Adviser at Lincoln College, offered tips on how to stand out from the crowd and maximise your chances of gaining employment:

“Keep your CV up-to-date and tailor it to the specific position you are applying for. Don’t spam employers with a generic CV that fails to tell them why you are right for this job.

“A covering letter or email should accompany your CV explaining why you would like to work for the company, drawing attention to highlights in your CV.

“Consider undertaking further study, perhaps update your maths, English or ICT skills as entering into further study also shows initiative and boosts confidence.

“Explore volunteering opportunities, as this can give you fantastic experience enabling you to develop a range of skills and demonstrate commitment to a role within an organisation.”

Apprenticeships provide local youth with key skills

New data has shown that apprenticeship numbers in Lincoln are on the rise, with 960 apprenticeships delivered in the 2010/11 academic year, a 34% increase on the previous year.

Karl McCartney, Conservative MP for Lincoln, said: “This is great news for both businesses and young people in our city.

“The record rise in apprenticeship numbers, particularly in Advanced ‘A’ level equivalent qualifications, shows our Government’s commitment to helping employers train the skilled workers they need to build a stronger economy and sustainable growth.”