HELPING our young people into employment or training and supporting their education is a key target for the Welsh Government and so it was extremely promising to see figures last week showing a reduction in the number of young people in Wales who are ‘NEET’- which means, not in education, employment or training.

Figures showed that in the 12 months ending September 30, 2014 only 8.3 per cent of 16-18 year olds were estimated to be NEET, compared with 11.9 per cent at the year ending September 30, 2013. During the same period ending September 30, 2014, 19.7 per cent of 19-24 year olds were estimated to be NEET, against 21.4 per cent at the year ending September 30, 2013.

The Deputy Minister for Skills, Julie James AM, has highlighted the success of a number of Welsh Government programmes in helping to reduce the number of NEET young people - most notably; Jobs Growth Wales which provides unemployed young people aged 16-24 with a job opportunity for six months.

The job must be paid at or above the national minimum wage for a minimum of 25 hours per week and a maximum of 40 hours and young people will be employed for the duration of the programme.

Jobs created must be additional to, and not replace, positions that would otherwise be filled and the ambition for the programme is that the job opportunities will be sustained after the six months has completed.

Since its inception in 2012, over 14,000 young people across Wales have filled jobs created by the European Social Fund backed programme, including here in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The Deputy Minister for Skills said: “Every filled Jobs Growth Wales opportunity means that an employer is able to expand their business and another young person is on their way to a new career.”

Because investment in education and skills is also crucial in reducing the number of young people not in employment, education or training, I recently announced, as Finance Minister, that we will invest a further £8.4m in education and skills in 2015-16.

Investment in education and skills reduces the likelihood of unemployment and shrinks the number of poorly paid jobs. It helps individuals, it helps communities and it helps our economy.