The Youth Guarantee and other skills training schemes are clearly getting traction so it’s great they’re being expanded and added to, says Kim Campbell, chief executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association, commenting on the training package announced today.

 “We’re much encouraged by the government focus on getting younger people either into skills training or work,” Mr Campbell said.

 “The expansion of these programmes broadens the suite of initiatives to help do this.

“Their success is registered in the fall in the youth unemployment rate – amongst 15 to 19 year olds it was 27.6 per cent two years ago at the end of the June quarter down to 24.1 percent this year.

“That’s still far too high. Over 30,000 unemployed young people represent a massive waste, and a future liability.

“Expanding these schemes is the right response, and this will also help ensure the success of them by encouraging employers to take on younger workers at every opportunity.

 “It’s difficult to imagine a better way to deploy the taxpayer’s resources.”