It would reduce the so called skill shortage and reduce the need to bring in skilled people from the third world where ther skills would be better utilised.
Being over 50 I am aware of the discrimation in the work place. I have applied for hundreds of jobs but have only had two interviews. I saw an article in the "Daily Mail" yesterday regarding the over 50s who are highly skilled and looking for a job, but are unable to find one. The other side of the coin is the CBI telling everyone that this country has a skills shortage, and skilled people need to be let into the UK from outside of the European Union. This Is just an Idea to help solve both problems. Start a website where all the unemployed people could register their skills and C.V. If an employer applies to the government saying, "I can't find the skills I want and need to bring people in from overseas"; they could then be directed to this website and, with a little joined up thinking, the employer would find the skilled worker he needs and someone would get a job. If the employers still say no one was suitable, they could be challenged.