THE high expectations of Asian parents often act as a barrier to their children getting jobs and training, a study has revealed.

Pendle Partnership's Action Research Project -- an action plan to identify and tackle barriers to work for young Asians -- interviewed more than 400 people in an 18-month survey.

Problem areas included unrealistic goals set by parents, leading to problems and possible drop-out from further and higher education.

A high number of parents also failed to see taking the main route to many occupational jobs as important and preferred their children to take up full time further education.

Other areas of concern included poor GCSE results, lack of post-16 work experience and a shortage of job-seeking skills, including interview technique and self presentation.

The Partnership Challenge Fund team's action plan aimed at tackling the problems includes early career guidance with parental involvement; accessible bilingual advice centres and the introduction of personal advisers to help Asian young people to prepare for interview and write CVs.

Work experience and career guidance for 19 to 24-year-olds also form part of the plan.

Now the local Asian Community is being urged to attend meetings to discuss the study and ways of tackling the problems.

The first was held at Brierfield Community Centre this week and the next takes place at Nelson Civic Theatre on Wednesday September 13 at 7.15pm.

Challenge Fund manager Gillian Jones said: "It is clear from the initial survey that Pendle's Asian young people are facing barriers when looking for jobs and training.

"The Partnership is working closely with the local community to draw up a plan to tackle these barriers."

The young people's survey was carried out by East Lancashire Careers Service.