TikTok launches blueprint to tackle youth unemployment

TikTok has launched a program to help young people find jobs in the creative and digital industries as part of its Youth Unemployment and Digital Skills Gap program. The social media platform is working with social business charity Catch22 on a multi-million dollar program that aims to work with 2,500 people by the end of 2024.

The new program targets young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not currently in education, work or training. This will allow them to access up to four weeks of work, as well as access to apprenticeships, virtual work experience, mentoring, mental health support, and scholarships.

According to TikTok, a major part of the program will also be encouraging marginalized and vulnerable people to learn creative digital skills. Rich Waterworth, CEO of TikTok UK, said that since the overall goal of the video-sharing platform was to encourage creativity, the new scheme was an obvious step.

“Our mission at TikTok is to inspire creativity and bring happiness. Creativity doesn’t just happen, it needs encouragement, education and space,” he said.

But thousands of young people lack the ability or skills to be creative, and there is uneven access to creativity and cultural resources. We look forward to working with Catch22 to bridge the gap between youth and the creative industries to truly bring creativity to all.”

Kate Dixon, Partnership Director at Catch22, said, “TikTok is a bright and visionary brand that young people understand. When young people interact with digital platforms, they exercise their creative muscle and digital skills.

“This program encourages them and enables them to turn these skills into exciting career options. As a charitable foundation in the digital age, we must continually learn to speak the language of young people.

“This partnership between Catch22 and TikTok ignites a new kind of professional conversation. (It) helps employers find new talent and empowers young people to build their futures.”

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