More youth employment to come from National Service Corps
Published:Wednesday | May 9, 2018 | 3:41 PMBrian Walker/Staff Reporter
More youth are set to gain employment through the National Service Corps Programme (NSCP) as the Government has disclosed plans to provide approximately $1.2 billion in budgetary support this year.
"Last year, Mr Speaker, we put $200 million into the National Service Corps Programme. Because we are seeing results, Mr Speaker, this year, it is budgeted that we will put $800 million from the Heart Trust/NTA into the [NSCP]," said Floyd Green, state minister in charge of youth.
In making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate on Tuesday, Green disclosed that the Government's allocation would be complemented by $390 million from the World Bank.
The NSCP, which commenced last year, is geared at transitioning 18- to-24-year-olds into the workforce by offering training and employment. According to the minister, more than 1,200 persons have been placed across 23 public-sector ministries or entities. In addition, more than 75 per cent of the 6,345 applicants for training in core skills islandwide were successful.
Green said that the NSCP formed part of the Goverment's overarching goal to reduce youth unemployment.
"Mr Speaker, when we took office in February [2016], the unemployment rate among our youth cohort between 15 and 24 years old was 33 per cent. In the latest report from STATIN (Statistical Institute of Jamaica), our unemployment rate has dropped to 23.8 percent, an almost 10 per cent decline. This is not by chance, Mr Speaker," noted Green.