West Lothian Council has been given £530,000 to help young people left unemployed in the wake of the pandemic get back to work.
The money will be used to provide additional support in creating job opportunities for residents aged 25 and who have been unemployed for over 12 months.
The funding is part of the Scottish Government’s Long-Term Unemployed Programme, set up to tackle the increasing numbers of the unemployed within this age range as a result of the pandemic.
Opportunities will be created within key areas that are known to have skills gaps and current labour market opportunities. There will also be offers of industry specific training .
The programme is designed to offer paid work placements to people aged over 25 years old, who have been unemployed for over 12 months and have additional barriers to employment.
In West Lothian, funding will allow for the creation of 53 opportunities by March next year.
Executive councillor for development and transport, Cathy Muldoon said: “Tackling unemployment remains a key priority for West Lothian Council and partners.
“Our Economic Development team has a great deal of experience working on other similar programme through the West Lothian Job Fund.
“Opportunities will be created within key areas that are known to have skills gaps and current labour market opportunities. This will support the progression of people after the six moth opportunity has ended."
She added: “The additional resources are welcomed and will provide us with the means to create opportunities for clients who have found themselves disengaged and unemployed for a significant amount of time.”
If you are unemployed and want support to access the opportunities to contact: access2employment@westlothian.gov.uk
