Counting the cost of a year in pandemic

MID SCOTLAND AND FIFE MSP

Almost a year into this pandemic and we are finding a way out of the immediate health crisis. Huge challenges remain not only in our continuing response to coronavirus but also in the resumption of health services more broadly.

We also face an economic and employment challenge which is immense. Levels of unemployment are high and throughout the past year hundreds of thousands of jobs have been placed on furlough.

Businesses have faced huge falls in turnover and many small businesses have closed, fearing they may not be able to reopen.

But even before this pandemic we needed to do more to support our economy.

For too long our Scottish and UK Governments have been reactive instead of proactive and this has left us unprepared for a crisis like the one we now face.

We need to see a continuing commitment to a valued and skilled workforce with quality jobs at the core, not just a response to this crisis.

While the negative impacts of coronavirus have been seen across all sectors and sections of our society, for young people they have been severe, with young people in work more likely to be furloughed or negatively impacted as a result of insecure or irregular work patterns.

There has been huge disruption to school-based learning and qualifications, as well as negative impacts on vocational education opportunities including apprenticeships and training.

Our response to the economic challenge needs to include support which is targeted to young people, delivering opportunities and support.

The beginning of March marks Scottish Apprenticeship Week and with it an opportunity to focus on the value that apprenticeships can bring to individuals, employers and the wider economy.

As businesses adapt to their changed circumstances, we are seeing some do so in a positive way that encourages apprentices to learn and progress. I hope that more businesses and organisations can be encouraged do the same.

Apprenticeships should be core to Scotland’s approach to rebuilding our economy as we move out of the pandemic, as they should have been prior to it – coronavirus only accelerated the need for more apprenticeships and better support for young people to get into the jobs market.

The Scottish Government missed its flagship target of delivering 30,000 new apprenticeships in 2020 and while they can point to “unprecedented challenges” over the past year, the fact is not enough was done to deliver it and we need to see a new approach which allows more opportunities to be provided in order to kickstart our economy.

As the economic impact of Covid-19 became clear, Scottish Labour called for a youth guarantee scheme to be established, tailored to provide additional assistance for those hardest hit.

The belated decision by the Scottish Government to announce one was welcome but it needs to support it with further funding, and ensure that it is able to create lasting employment.

The budget should be setting out ambitious plans to rebuild but it fails to do enough to provide the apprenticeship and employment opportunities our young people need.

We need an approach which involves all levels of government as well as trade unions and employers, recognising the role small and large businesses can play and the different support they need to deliver.

Young people need opportunities which provide long term employment and development, not just a short term fix, and we have a responsibility to support our next generation of workers.