Strong growth in job opportunities

CBI Northern Ireland director Nigel Smyth has said that employability must be at the heart of education in the province.

The director was speaking to over 50 Careers Education and Guidance teachers at the University of Ulster on Thursday where he said that such an stance would “ensure that values and attitudes, basic skills and the six key skills are adequately addressed as well as up-to-date job specific skills and relevant knowledge and understanding".

Stressing the importance of high quality independent careers education and guidance to ensure that individuals were well informed prior to making education, training and career choices, Mr Smyth added: "We need to increase expectations and provide every individual with the ability to develop their potential to the optimum, encouraging them to achieve the relevant knowledge, skills and values appropriate to their needs.”

Mr Smyth also stated that Northern Ireland had experienced the fastest employment growth in its history over the last six years. Over 77,000 jobs had been created between March 1995 and March 2001, almost 13,000 additional jobs every year. (MB)