Desperate out-of-workers queue for Christmas jobs

Thus Foyle SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey told a briefing of the Stormont Employment Committee on the issue of young people who are not in employment, education or training.

Over 40,000 people across Northern Ireland find themselves in this position according to the Barnardo’s charity.

To help tackle the problem the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) held a major jobs fair involving 20 employers in Londonderry last month.

More than 200 job opportunities were on offer at the employment fair organised by DEL and Derry City Council.

Locally-based firms FirstSource, Fujitsu, and TK Maxx were amongst those represented.

Speaking at the recent Stormont briefing Mr Ramsey hailed the fair a “tremendous success” from DEL’s point of view.

But he expressed concern over hundreds of desperate job seekers queuing for Christmas positions at major retail outlets whilst IT firms were struggling to attract qualified candidates.

He told the Committee: “I was concerned because there were three companies there from the IT sector, and one had something like 100 vacancies, but it could not get the people to fill those vacancies.

“Then we had the other side: hundreds of people were queuing to apply, in desperation, for Christmas jobs at Primark, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

“In terms of trying to evaluate, the point that I am getting is that there are careers education programmes there. Is there one template across Northern Ireland?

“I imagine that if I went to Coleraine I would not find the same people looking for jobs. There would not be the same companies - there might not be the need for the IT sector, but there could be another area.

“I am wondering whether there is a regional package fit for purpose to meet the needs of a particular area. Derry is very different from west Belfast or north Belfast.”