With A-level results marking a new cohort of young people in the North East entering the toughest labour market for a generation, the CIPD has launched a One Million Chances campaign.

It aims to get employers in the region to help create a million opportunities for young people through jobs, internships, work experience, apprenticeships T-levels or the Kickstart scheme – to help undo the damage done by Covid and address staff shortages.

Openreach and Tesco have already pledged their support.

According to labour market statistics just under 284,000 people in the North East claimed out-of-work benefits during the month of June this year, of which close to 55,000 were aged 16-24. Comparatively, over 152,000 people in the region claimed out-of-work benefits pre-pandemic during June 2019, of which just under 29,000 were aged 16-24.

It comes as no surprise then, to learn that 42% of young people unemployed in the North and Midlands are not confident about finding any work in the next three months.

Daphne Doody-Green, Head of CIPD North said: “Young people play an important role in future proofing businesses and addressing the growing skills crisis that many sectors in the North East are facing since the pandemic, and due to Brexit.

“Our One Million Chances campaign aims to encourage and support employers with investing in young talent. As part of this we’ll be promoting the various different options and ways that employers can develop and progress young workers to ensure they reap the benefits of the creativity, ingenuity and energy.”