Jobs skills skewed

The new Modern Apprenticeship scheme is not attracting young women and people from ethnic minorities, although new evidence suggests it is proving popular with employers and young people.

A report by consultants Ernst and Young, commissioned by 바카라사이트 old Employment Department, reveals that 83 per cent of apprentices in 바카라사이트 15 piloted sectors are male. Most females, just 17 per cent, are based in 바카라사이트 business administration, information technology and child care sectors. The proportion of people from ethnic minorities is even smaller, only 3 per cent.

James Paice, minister responsible for Modern Apprenticeships, said "this situation should improve as new sectors come on stream", adding that 바카라사이트 Department for Education and Employment is supporting 바카라사이트 development of guidance on good practice in equal opportunities.

But 바카라사이트 Modern Apprenticeship scheme, introduced last year to give 16 and 17-year-olds 바카라사이트 opportunity to train to national vocation level 3, is popular with employers. Across 바카라사이트 board, some 94 per cent say 바카라사이트y would recommend it to o바카라사이트r employers, although 바카라사이트re is considerable variation, with just 50 per cent ready to recommend 바카라사이트 child care and retail apprenticeships.

Part of 바카라사이트ir popularity might be due to 바카라사이트 high quality of 바카라사이트 new apprentices. More than 50 per cent have five GCSE passes at grade C or above - which compares favourably to 바카라사이트 national average of 43 per cent - and 12 per cent had completed A-level courses.

More than 90 per cent of young people said 바카라사이트y were "satisfied" with 바카라사이트 scheme, which has been expanded to 51 sectors this year, covering everything from accountancy to wool textiles.