Maguire, Sue M. (Susan Mary), Speilhofer, Thomas and Golden, Sarah. (2012) Earning not learning? An assessment of young people in the jobs without training (JWT) group. Sociological Research Online, Vol.17 (No.3). ISSN 1360-7804

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Abstract

In recent years, mass participation in post-16 education and training in England has led to a diminishing understanding about young people who leave education at the end of compulsory schooling to enter ‘jobs without training’ (JWT). Drawing on data from three recent studies, this article argues that the JWT group is not homogeneous in its composition. Similar findings led to the development of a common typology across all three studies to define young people’s position in the labour market, their motivations and aspirations, and their access to training and development. It concludes with a series of recommendations for addressing the deficit in knowledge about the composition of the JWT group, and the learning and training needs of young workers. This discussion is set in the context of the implementation of the Raising of the Participation Age (RPA) in England for all 17-year olds from 2013 and for all 18-year olds from 2015, although within the Coalition Government’s current proposals, its delivery will lack any form of immediate enforcement. Therefore, unless young workers and their employers are committed to the acquisition of accredited qualifications, RPA delivery will be seriously undermined and intervention to support school to work transitions among the JWT group will remain negligible.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute of Education
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Teenagers -- Employment -- Great Britain, Unskilled labor -- Great Britain, Occupational training -- Great Britain, School-to-work transition -- Great Britain
Journal or Publication Title:	Sociological Research Online
Publisher:	Sage Publications Ltd.
ISSN:	1360-7804
Date:	31 August 2012
Volume:	Vol.17
Number:	No.3
Identification Number:	10.5153/sro.2517
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) (ESRC)
Grant number:	RES-000-22-1786
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/40121

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