The good news that employment prospects for school leavers are the best for years, could hardly have come at a more propitious time. In a week in which 62,000 students are finishing their Leaving Certificate examinations, the ESRI annual survey shows a sharp drop in school leaver unemployment, down from 20 per cent in 1994 to 14 per cent in 1995. Some of this fall is attributable to the higher percentage of students going on to college, but there is no masking the good news more school leavers are getting jobs.
The growth in employment for school leavers is an impressive achievement. Indeed if the national level of unemployment was to fall by the same level it would be hailed as a watershed. But high youth unemployment has been such a constant factor in Irish economic and social life for so long, that it is almost difficult to believe that the tide has turned so dramatically.
It would appear that the boom in job creation in the past two years is benefiting young people more than the unemployed. But it is not simply young workers who are being sought employers are looking for well educated young workers. The report part of an annual ESRI survey of school leavers underlines this trend educational attainment is the springboard for better employment prospects and earning capacity. This, in itself, is a strong vote of confidence in the practical value of a good education.
The report also shows a very high school retention rate with 82 per cent of students taking a senior cycle certificate. In recent years, there has been much discussion about the large numbers leaving school without qualifications. But we now have evidence that there has been a very substantial drop in this pattern only three per cent left school in 1994 without qualifications. Compared to Britain or several other of our EU counterparts, we retain considerably more of our young people in full time education up to age 17.
The high participation in education continues to third level with 42 per cent of school leavers going to college and an estimated 20 per cent opting for post Leaving Cert PLC courses this, again, is a higher proportion than in many richer countries.
It would, however, be wrong to be complacent about early school leavers. This is an area which still needs to be targeted for extra attention and resources. It is disturbing to find, for example, that the unemployment level among school leavers whose fathers are unemployed is one in three.
Overall, the report presents a very positive scenario for young people finishing their exams this week. It should provide additional encouragement to those contemplating further study. It provides clear evidence that the future for young people lies in gaining higher qualifications and that the prospects for early school leavers and those without qualifications are bleak. For the Government it shows that investment in education pays dividends and that the development of a more educated workforce is an important component in the battle against unemployment.