boost their business.

Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister is trying to place older children in holiday work and he pointed out they were often more adept at computer work than adults.

He said: "The leaders of the new economy -- in terms of technological skills -- are often the young people.

"Parents are always asking their children how to do stuff on the computer.

"We are asking businesses to think about real jobs and things that need to be done and hire students to do them.

"There's no reason why companies can't take these young people on -- for instance to get all those records which are kept in a box into a computer.

"There's a company called Teen Tech which takes young people during holiday breaks and teaches them to strip computers, rebuild them and run them.

"My son has done this programme, I know how good it is. When you think of the skills children and young people like that, you have to realise they can be gainfully employed by companies for work of value.

"It's not a baby-sitting exercise -- they are people who can bring value to their organisations.'' He said the private sector snapped up undergraduates but were wary of younger students.

Only 15 undergraduates registered for holiday work but didn't get jobs last year.

"The university students are pretty much taken care of,'' said Mr. Lister.

"The real challenge for us is those in high school who can't get jobs.

"They register in great numbers at the age of 15 in December. Historically we place very small numbers of those.

"Last year, 66 were placed with Government and 23 with the private sector.

"That's around 90 of the 530 -- that's a very low percentage. Our appeal to the private sector is to assist us to find useful, meaningful employment to those 15-17 year-olds.

Mr. Lister pointed out that companies didn't have to pay employment tax for students.

"And where they work part-time, all the year round, there's no employment tax so where they have 15-year-olds they enjoy having, they can keep them going on Saturdays. There's a real gain all around.'' Mr. Lister said the youngsters could forge links with companies early, which would give them vital experience and help them get work straight away after returning from abroad.

He said: "They will be standing at the front of the line for the employment trough. They are making good choices.'' He said graduates who failed to get work on returning from studies were often from poor families.

"Often mum and dad have borrowed huge sums of money from the bank and thought once their child gets a job he can start paying off the bank, but instead he's lying around the house or he's doing something he wasn't trained for and he's not motivated.'' Getting experience early would combat this said Mr. Lister.

The Minister also announced the appointment of Terry Greene as manager of Training and Employment Services yesterday.

Mr. Green said: "I have understanding of where the economy lies and what's needed for the employers. I hope we can get these people who are unemployed into jobs.'' Terry Greene