The new initiative announced by the Works and Pensions Minister Chris Grayling to increase work experience schemes from two to eight weeks for 18 to 21 year olds does not sound like a great solution to youth unemployment despite the fanfare.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2011/jan-2011/dwp007-11.shtml

   Aside from the fact that the government cuts are helping to create youth unemployment as well as the knock on effect of having to work longer thus not freeing jobs up as soon as regular all this is doing is adding 6 weeks of experience in the same place to put on a CV. If an employer does not have a position for the person on works experience after two weeks then they are unlikely to have one after eight weeks bearing in mind that is not for those under 18 where they may have the time to work somewhere whilst studying but for those who in the main are looking for a permanent job.
   A worse case scenario could see it reduce the number of available jobs as an employer can take somebody on for two months without having to pay them and get them to do menial tasks rather than actually employing anyone. After there work experience has concluded the employer can then take another 18-21 year old on work experience. No doubt there will be occasions where it does help improve a CV and lead to future employment elsewhere, or in some rare cases at the same company but employers are not going to hire people just for the sake of it. This is not a job creation scheme and as long as the cuts continue to bite then unemployment will continue to rise creating a buyers market for firms free to offer posts with low pay and long hours.