More than 12,000 youngsters have found employment through the Welsh Government’s Jobs Growth Wales Scheme.
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Julie James has welcomed the latest figures which show 15,625 job opportunities have been created, with 12,298 vacancies filled.
The flagship Welsh Government programme provides unemployed young people aged between 16 and 24 with a job opportunity for six months.
The aim of the scheme is to help employers grow their business by paying the young person’s salary, with the hope they will be offered sustained employment after six months.
The European Social Fund-backed programme has filled 348 job opportunities since August’s figures were announced.
The latest statistics show that almost eight out of ten (78%) Job Growth Wales opportunities have been taken up in the private sector.
After the six month programme, 83% of participants progress into sustained employment, an apprenticeship or further learning upon completing a six month opportunity.
Meanwhile, the graduate strand of Jobs Growth Wales shows that 94% of young people have progressed into sustained employment or further learning after finishing their six month opportunities.
The self-employment strand of Jobs Growth Wales shows that 370 new businesses have been created since the programme began in April 2012.
Deputy Minister Julie James said: “The fall we’ve seen in youth unemployment in Wales is no coincidence. It’s clear that Jobs Growth Wales is playing its part in helping our young people into paid, meaningful work.
“It’s very encouraging that so many employers in the private sector see how they can benefit by taking on young employees. Many young people finishing their six month’s opportunity with a private sector employer go on to a full-time job or apprenticeship with them.
“In my new role as Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology I’m looking forward to meeting people on the programme and their employers to discuss first hand how Jobs Growth Wales has benefited them.”