The National Assembly for Wales Enterprise and Business Committee has made a number of recommendations it feels are needed to break down the barriers faced by young people as they try to enter the workforce.
The latest statistics show that 17.6% of 16-24 year olds in Wales are unemployed and the Committee has looked at various schemes available across the public, private and third sectors in helping young people into employment.
In addition to analysing written and oral evidence from a range of witnesses, including local authorities, charities, employers, training providers and the Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology the Committee also visited Info-Nation in Swansea to talk to young people about the issues affecting them.
William Graham AM Chair of the Enterprise and Business Committee said:
"There are a number of factors that young people face as they try to enter the workforce, such as lack of confidence, lack of qualifications and lack of experience:
"One of our key findings was that there remains a fundamental imbalance towards academic study that is out of step with the employment opportunities available to young people and does little to prepare them for working life.
"Although the Welsh Government has sought to promote work-based learning and parity of esteem for vocational training, we heard that just 0.3% of school leavers in Cardiff last year started an apprenticeship. This compares with 87% going on to further education.
"We have made a number of recommendations to the Welsh Government to try to ensure that young people in Wales are given the best possible start to their working lives."
Report by the Enterprise and Business Committee on Assisting Young People into Work (PDF, 778KB)