Young people who may have opted out of the formal education and training opportunities when the draw of high wages during the boom years was irresistible are now more likely to remain unemployed if they are not actively upskilling and gaining new expertise

More than 50,000 young people signing on the Live Register are being urged to improve their education. The Department of Social and Family Affairs has sent letters to all 18 to 25-year-olds on Jobseeker’s Allowance advising them to look at the options for up-skilling and retraining.

Roy Lalor at Pitman Training in Swords comments, “With the announcement earlier this year of the cut in jobseeker’s allowance payment rates for 18 and 19-year-olds, we have seen a huge trend of under 25’s contacting us for advice.

"Within our area of computer, office and secretarial skills training, Pitman Training can offer a wide range of tailored solutions that give people immediate results and upskill them for the jobs that are available, including temp work. From a Business I.T. Diploma through to an Executive PA Diploma, we have the courses available.

"Our approach has always been to give people the skills they need at the times they can learn. This flexibility gives us many advantages over the current state-aided approach to retraining”.

The training courses provided by Pitman Training range from touch typing to their prestigious legal, medical, accounts and secretarial diplomas.

Roy continues, “Every day we talk to people who have just lost their jobs and want to retrain, the biggest obstacle they face is financial. We are currently helping potential learners identify if they qualify for any fee reductions through allowances as this means we help a lot more people develop the skills they need for a new career”.

Pitman Training has been successfully providing training to both the corporate and private markets across Ireland for over 15 years and is one of the world’s leading office skills and computer training organisations. With more and more employers focused on specific business type qualifications and skills, Pitman Training provides internationally recognised business certification as well as legal and medical qualifications.

Learning with Pitman Training is undertaken with a flexible training model, whereby individual students choose their days and times to train. There is also a wide range of classroom courses including seminars such as CV Preparation, Job-search Skills and Job Interview Techniques.

Social Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin said improving skills will be the key to economic recovery, “Young people should not see signing on the Live Register as their future – they should look to see what supports and opportunities are available for them throughout the country. We know that people of all skill levels are losing their jobs.

"Young people who may have opted out of the formal education and training opportunities, when the draw of high wages during the boom years was irresistible, are now more likely to remain unemployed if they are not actively up-skilling and gaining new expertise.”

With fifteen training centres throughout the country, Pitman Training is one of the top retraining and up-skilling networks in Ireland. The centres offer top quality computer training courses, secretarial training courses and IT skills training to individuals and organisations.

For further information on courses with Pitman Training go to http://www.supportingcareers.ie/exhibitors/overview/pitman-training