THOUSANDS of young people from across Wales were brought face to face with some of the region’s best-known employers in Cardiff on Wednesday (May 13) in the biggest ever jobs fair of its kind.
The event was Wales’s first ever jobs fair to be hosted as part of the Youth Guarantee the government’s scheme to ensure young people are either earning or learning. Hosted at the iconic Principality Stadium, the event welcomed thousands of young jobseekers from across Cardiff, Newport, the Valleys and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Attendees were given direct access to a wide range of employment and training opportunities brought together under the stadium’s roof. Defence, hospitality and construction were just some of the strong career pathways open to attendees at Wednesday’s event.
Employers and training providers provided jobseekers with details of the hundreds of open vacancies and apprenticeships opportunities being recruited with more than 600 job offers already made.
Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “Jobs Fair in Cardiff has shown what’s possible when government and employers work together.
“Young jobseekers have been shown what the next step in their career journey could be – and in some cases will have left with a job offer.
“I’m delighted so many local employers are choosing to back our Youth Guarantee, and we will keep going further so we can ensure every young person has the chance to earn or learn.”
Before the event, young jobseekers received specialised group information sessions to help them get the most out of meeting employers face-to-face.
They also received hands-on advice covering everything from filling in applications to preparing for interviews – giving them the skills and confidence they need to take their first step into the world of work.
Wednesday’s jobs fair forms part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to tackling youth unemployment and ensuring young people can access the opportunities available in their local area.
By bringing together jobseekers from across the region alongside a broad range of employers the event has helped create lasting pathways into sustainable employment for young people across Wales.
Wednesday’s event reinforces the Government’s commitment that all young people under the age of 25 should be offered one of the following high-quality pathways:
- employment
- continued education
- an apprenticeship
- a traineeship, work experience placement or Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP)
