Prime Minister John Key has personally written to 175 employers asking them to hire young boot camp graduates.

Key and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today visited Limited Services Volunteers (LSV) at the Trentham Defence Force base near Wellington.

The six week courses for 18 to 25 year-olds teach volunteers life skills, fitness and employment-focused activities.

Intakes of up to 300 people take part in courses at Hobsonville, Burnham and Trentham four times a year.

Key said he'd spoken with employers around the country who were "delighted" with the graduates they had hired.

"So today I am launching a new initiative to get more of these young people into work.

"Today I have personally written to about 175 employers asking them to take on motivated young people who have completed the LSV course and are ready to work.

"I will continue to write to employers over the coming months."

Key said the Government was investing about $1000 a week on each young person.

It was a difficult time in the job market, he acknowledged.

Bennett said the Government had made changes over the four years the courses had been running to improve the employment opportunities for graduates.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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