Last night’s Panorama programme, ‘Jobs for the Boys’ (13
May 2013) highlighted the crisis facing the country and another generation of
young black men. BTEG congratulates Sol Campbell (ex-Arsenal and England footballer)
for exposing the barriers young black men face in findingjobs.
In 2006 the black youth unemployment rate was 37 per
cent; 2.5 times higher than the white youth unemployment rate. In 2012 the
unemployment rate for black young people was 49 per cent; 2.2 times higher than
for white young people. Although
unemployment has risen for all young people, the relatively far higher rates
for young black people have been there for a long time. As Sol Campbell showed,
many unemployed young black men are trying their hardest to find work and their
frustration at their continued exclusion from the labour market was clear to
see.
In 2012, 53 per cent of 16-24 year old young black people
were in full time education compared to 39 per cent of young white people. But
delaying entry to the labour market is not translating into improved job
opportunities for young black men.
Jeremy
Crook OBE, Director of Black Training and Enterprise Group, who also appeared on the programme, says ‘The Panorama programme must be the catalyst
for employers, government and black
organisations (that work with young unemployedpeople) to set up a national task
force to drive targeted action to transform the life chances of young black men
by creating job opportunities. We would like to see Sol Campbell lead such a
task force ’
‘The
time has come for schools, FE and HE institutions to put in place clear
pathways from their institutions to employers. Young black men need to find out
fromcolleges and universities before they enrol on a course how many people
that look like them found employment as a result of completing the course. Employers
also need to ask themselves whether they are doing enough to attract talented
young black men’
‘Only
the London Mayor has recognised targeted action is needed to tackle this
problem and he has allocated £1m to support a mentoring programme for school
age black boys. But programmes like this will struggle unless there is evidence
that young black men will be rewarded with employment after success in
education’
BTEG is currently recruiting successful black men to serve
as volunteer role models to inspire young black males to achieve their
education and employment goals. We also want black boys and young black men to
join the programme, Routes2Success,
and develop their own local projects to improve their prospects.
About BTEG
BTEG is
a London based national charity which was set up in 1991 by ethnic minority voluntary organisations. The
charity supports local ethnic minority groups
that help people into work and advises government departments.
BTEG is supported by Trust for London, City
Bridge Trust, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Ministry of Justice, The
Monument Trust and Big Lottery.
BTEG address: 200a Pentonville Road, London
N1 9JP. www.bteg.co.uk
