This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Barriers to employment
20/03/2007
Removing barriers to employment provides the best route out of poverty and disadvantage, the Employability for Scotland Conference in Glasgow was told today.
Deputy Enterprise Minister Allan Wilson said growing and developing Scotland's workforce was essential for the country's continued economic success.
He said:
"If we are to compete on a global stage, our young people must have the skills and attributes needed by society and our economy. But we must pay greater attention to those who face barriers to employment, those who are hardest to reach.
"We have high levels of employment - the highest rates in a generation and higher than the UK as a whole. Our education system is recognised as being one of the best in the world. But we recognise that we have a particular challenge in Scotland with young people not in education, employment or training - the NEET group.
"Doing nothing about this group makes no social or economic sense and is not an option. That is why we are developing partnerships between businesses, schools and colleges, and the voluntary sector to provide the best opportunity of future employment, education or training for these young people. Our Employability Framework and our NEET strategy are already making a difference to lives previously forgotten, providing new opportunities for people previously ignored.
"Giving everyone the best possible opportunity to reach their full potential is a challenge. But it is a challenge we are tackling head on."