Developing the young workforce: equality impact assessment report

Equality Impact Assessment Record: Developing the Young Workforce (DYW)

Screening

Policy Aim

On the 17 December 2014, the Scottish Government launched its youth employment strategy - Developing the Young Workforce ( DYW), a seven year programme to reduce Scotland's youth unemployment by 40% by 2021. As well as the headline target, the programme is underpinned by 39 recommendations and 11 Key Performance Indicators ( KPIs).

The DYW programme aims to offer an excellent, work relevant education offer to young people in Scotland, giving them the skills for the current and anticipated jobs market.

This includes:

• creating new vocational learning options;
• enabling young people to learn in a range of settings in their senior phase of school;
• embedding employer engagement in education;
• offering careers advice at an earlier point in school; and
• introducing new standards for careers guidance and work experience.

Developing the Young Workforce contributes to the following national outcomes:

• We live in a Scotland that is the most attractive place for doing business in Europe.
• We realise our full economic potential with more and better employment opportunities for our people.
• Our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.
• Our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed.
• We are better educated, more skilled and more successful, renowned for our research and innovation.

Who will it affect?

The programme will impact upon all young people, from pre-school, through education and onwards into work. Those young people who will benefit most are those not planning to head directly towards higher education.

The programme will also affect those required to participate in the implementation actions such as employers in the community and the wider working environment both directly and indirectly to meet their business needs.

What might prevent the desired outcomes being achieved?

The Scottish Government agreed to take forward the recommendations of an independent Commission led by Sir Ian Wood and published in the Commission's report in June 2014. Implementation is being taken forward by Government, Local Authorities and other agencies and bodies. The extent to, and the way in which, recommendations are implemented will determine whether the desired outcomes are achieved.