A licence to work, and fix a big problem

‘‘There are 2500 young people in the Hutt Valley not employed or in training.’’

A senior Hutt City Council officer has challenged business leaders to do more to deal with youth unemployment in Lower Hutt.

The challenge came as youth unemployment among Lower Hutt’s 18–24 year olds reached 20 per cent, compared with the national average of 14.9 per cent.

General manager Matt Reid asked business leaders and politicians made the call to action at a YOUth Inspire breakfast last week. YOUth Inspire was set up in Wainuiomata three years ago as part of the Mayors Taskforce.

It had helped 381 youngsters find work and last week opened an office in Naenae.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace said that having young people working was good for society. One of the big barriers facing young people looking for work is getting a driver’s licence. His father had taught him to drive and the process had been straightforward, he said. It is now much more difficult and expensive but getting more young people driving legally would lead to a drop in unemployment, he said. There are 2500 young people in the Hutt Valley not employed or in training. YOUth Inspire manager Alison Black said research put the cost of getting a licence at up to $6000.

For many young people growing up in deprived areas like Wainuiomata or Naenae, that is not an option. They still drive and when they get caught get a criminal record, which makes it even harder for them to find work, she said.

Black said finding work was like ‘‘winning Lotto’’ and only a community response would fix the problem of youth unemploy- ment.

Reid called for a youth employment strategy involving businesses, educators and training providers.

One of those helped by YOUth Inspire was Sonny Taafia who now works for Powder Coating Services.

The 22-year-old admitted to having been in trouble with the law. When prospective employers found out about his past, they quickly lost interest in employing him.

YOUth Inspire helped him get his licence and the skills needed for his current job. He is looking for a long term career, probably as a plumber.

Without YOUth Inspire, he said his life would be very different. ‘‘I would be in jail, that was the only road for me. Jail.’’