Focus on getting young people get back into work post-Covid

MAYO Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers is urging for young people to be made a priority in the post-Covid recovery period and for specific government supports to be made available to address youth employment.

Senator Chambers commented: “CSO figures recently released showed 59% of people aged 15-24 were unemployed in March - 64% of young women were unemployed, according to the figures.

“The higher rate of unemployment for women is colossal; more women work in lower paid precarious jobs in the hospitality and retail sectors.

“We need to ensure that we get young people back into work as quick as possible. In the post-Covid recovery period we have to focus on young people who have lost the most in this pandemic. We can’t leave them behind and it must be a priority.”

She added: “Specific government supports will be needed to address youth unemployment. Once the economy opens up and we see the retail and hospitality sector back open we will get a clear picture of the level of jobs truly lost and the task we have ahead.”