Ariel Maynard, an employee with the Ministry of Education and Culture assists a young male with his application for the Youth Unemployment Register (YUR). Photo: DAYS.

According to Patrick Harrigan, Director of DYAS, the final figure will be known by Monday, December 19, 2011 because he has to add up the online applications as well.

“I anticipate that the final number be between 300 and 400,” Harrigan commented to this news agency on Thursday, December 15, 2011.

Asked whether he was surprised with the response to the drive, which began on November 30 and ended December 14, the Director admitted it never dawned on him that so many young people were without jobs.

While not going into details on the next step in the programme, Harrigan stated that a workshop is possible to help the applicants prepare for job interviews. Moreover, he is hopeful that job placements for some of the young people will begin in the 1st quarter of 2012.

Hon. Walwyn unveiled the prog. on November 29, 2011. Photo: VINO

Interestingly, the Director revealed that “a whole number of them don’t know what they want [to do].”

And from quick observation, the largest number of young people that applied was recent High School graduates, followed by H. Lavity Stoutt Community College students and school dropouts.

YUR was announced to the public on November 29, 2011 by Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron Walwyn. Its creation will help Government assess the status of disadvantaged and unemployed youth.

Once operational, the database will serve as a medium to support young workers and integrate youth into the labour market. It will also serve as an information base for Government to plan policies that will address employment and education.

YUR caters for young persons between the ages of 18 and 30.