Governments around the world threw money into their economies in desperate attempts to keep them alive and pumping. In Australia's instance, it worked - and arguably saved us from going into recession.

At a local level, stimulus spending is still happening. But in one case the handout has gone unheralded - until this point. Today we give significant attention to the Federal Government's generous subsidy to employers to hire apprentices.

Our aim, in concert with the Government, is to find places for 500 apprentices before March next year. Project Kickstart is extraordinarily ambitious, yet it goes to the heart of one of the greatest challenges the Illawarra faces.

With unemployment dancing around 10 per cent we are by definition a disadvantaged region. But on closer examination the jobless numbers reveal a much more horrendous rate of 30 per cent for those people up to the age of 19 searching for work. Combined with a relatively low school retention rate, a clear picture emerges of where this community needs to be giving serious focus.

Federal MP and Member for Throsby Jennie George, a former ACTU president, is passionate about the need to find young people work. We agree with her that every employer should explore their capacity to put on an apprentice. To help a young person. To help their business. To help our community.

Indeed, making a difference to one person's life will make a wider difference. The social value someone feels when employed cannot be underestimated. The flip side is that where youth unemployment rages so does the social impact. We should not accept this situation.

In recent years, "the trades" have become unfashionable in some quarters. We do not know why. We need people to bake our bread, build our houses and fix our cars.

Now employers have a greater incentive - and we should all want to play a part in cutting our jobless rate. As for those wanting an apprenticeship, register your interest now on our website at www.illawarramercury.com.au.