The Government initiative 'Future Jobs Fund' has been causing grievance to lots of arts graduates recently. The initiative has created lots of paid openings and paid internships in the arts sector. These jobs are often with incredibly prestigious and sought after arts organisations, such as the National Theatre. Hurray I hear you cry. Finally these highly subsidised arts organisations with charity status are doing something pro-active by creating entry level jobs for the hoards of arts and humanities graduates in dire need of their first break. Oh no, that would be far too sensible. These fantastic jobs are only available to those who have been on jobseeker's allowance for 6 months or more. Which means that if you struggled to find a good graduate job but swallowed your pride and took on some hard graft waiting tables or working in a shop you have thereby scuppered any chance of getting into the industry you most desire to work in.
Take my friend for example, who for the purpose of this blog will be person A. person A does not have wealthy parents. She does have a good degree, a fair bit of uni based experience and a strong work ethic. She saved up the last dregs of her student loan and made the move to London. She took a job in a theatre bar to pay the bills and rent and in every spare second worked in admin for free at the same theatre to gain experience. Imagine her delight when a paid arts admin job opened up at her theatre - she could get paid for doing the work she had been doing for free, fantastic!
Hold your horses diligent person A, this is a Future Jobs Fund position and lets have a look at your background... No you were only signed on for two weeks before you foolishly found a job in a bar. Silly you. Now go back to pulling pints please, we'd rather take on someone who didn't want to stoop to taking on a menial job and working hard whilst getting experience at the same time, but instead sat on their laurels for six months or more. So now you can watch from behind the bar as they walk into work here and get paid for doing the same work you were doing for free while you do the washing up dear.
So the government statistics will look great - all these graduates off the dole. But at what cost? The deserving candidates are still stuck in dead end jobs barely able to pay the rent. The question here really is ~ should the 'achievement' of being on jobseeker's allowance for 6 months be rewarded in this way, while those candidates who have not been on benefit but are still very much struggling to survive are denied these opportunities?
Direct Gov. Information for Future Jobs Fund: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/LookingForWork/DG_184167
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