Employment and Youth Engagement Charter

The Employment and Youth Engagement Charter is a government initiative to help those who are at risk of not easily moving into employment. It is one of the commitments included in government’s national employment strategy under Pathways to Work 2021-2025. The Employment and Youth Engagement Charter provides a framework to collaborate with employers to support and inspire young jobseekers and other priority groups to build their knowledge, skills and experience to enhance their employability. The Employment and Youth Engagement Charter has been developed with the help of employers, voluntary agencies and young people and is a practical document that is representative of both the needs of employers and employees.

Finding a job or moving to a new job with little or no experience can be difficult. This is especially so for young jobseekers and other priority groups. Getting that first step on the job ladder is very important as it breaks the cycle of ‘no experience, no job; no job, no experience’. Work is important for financial independence, building networks, developing skills and mental wellbeing. Learning new skills while in work and participating in training is also very important, as the world of work continues to change with new and emerging technologies.

Businesses have a central role in tackling unemployment and building greater inclusion in the workplace. This initiative prioritises support for those who will benefit from additional help to move into employment.

Young jobseekers, under 30 years of age, are the main focus of the Employment and Youth Engagement Charter.

The Employment and Youth Engagement Charter is also available to other groups of jobseekers who may find it difficult to get an interview, gain work experience or move into work. These include:

• people experiencing mental health issues or have a disability
• refugees or migrants
• older men and women who lost their job later in their career
• people who have spent time out of the workplace because of caring or childcare responsibilities
• those who are homeless or have spent time in prison
• minority groups such as members of the Traveller or Roma communities

These priority groups may change and there may be overlap between the different groups. However, it is important to note that not all those in each of the above groups will need additional support, with many successfully progressing their own work opportunities independently.

Under the Employment and Youth Engagement Charter, your business will undertake to deliver two or more of the following commitments:

• take advantage of employer incentives and supports which help give jobseekers work experience and offer pathways into employment, including the Work Placement Experience Programme, the JobsPlus Scheme and the Wage Subsidy Scheme
• avail of an Intreo briefing to find out how you can support the hiring of Intreo candidates
• host an event to offer advice to jobseekers on how to search for a job, write a CV and prepare for interview
• offer motivational talks to young jobseekers by sharing your knowledge on how to get job ready, or start a business
• develop a mentoring programme to offer guidance and support to jobseekers
• help to reduce youth unemployment by recruiting young people with the support of Intreo

By signing up to the Employment and Youth Engagement Charter, businesses can become part of a community that can:

• avail of state subsidies and incentives for recruiting new jobseekers with the assistance of Intreo staff to provide advice and support
• expand and develop scope for recruitment by accessing a wide range and diverse pool of candidates
• become part of a community of responsible and inclusive employers who provide opportunities to jobseekers who may otherwise find it hard to progress into employment
• raise awareness of their organisation and sector at a local/community level
• build corporate social responsibility within their business or organisation

To sign up to the Charter, please fill out the Expression of Interest Form or email:employer@welfare.ie. Find out more about the Charter in this press release.

A network of Employer Relations Officers and Key Account Managers are available nationwide to actively support employers with any questions they may have on the Charter. Full contact details are available on this contacts page.

Once an employer signs and submits the Charter, they will be contacted by a member of the Employer Relations Division to discuss which commitments they can put into action. An introductory meeting with an Employer Relations Officer will be organised to discuss the next steps within the scope of an employer’s chosen commitments. The Employer Relations Officer will provide assistance to the employer and help develop options for engagement with the Charter.

A set of guidelines have been prepared to support the implementation of the commitments as outlined in the Charter. These guidelines provide a range of suggestions on how to implement each of the six commitments. The guidelines also highlight the employer supports and services most relevant for the successful implementation of each commitment. These guidelines can be accessed here.