Critics of the Federal Government's Work for the Dole scheme say the program will not improve people's skills and will not help them get jobs.

Young jobseekers aged 18 to 30 in high-unemployment areas will be subject to the new conditions from July this year, requiring them to work around 15 hours per week for six months to receive unemployment benefits.

Geelong is one of 18 regions chosen by the Federal Government to spearhead its revitalised Work for the Dole program.

Currently jobseekers must meet mutual obligation requirements, of which the Work for the Dole scheme is one option.

The changes will make Work for the Dole mandatory for eligible job seekers.

Geelong is facing employment challenges with the demise of its traditional manufacturing base.

Its northern suburbs are suffering chronic jobless levels above 10 per cent in some areas, although the city's unemployment rate for the 12 months to March was 5.8 per cent, in line with the national average.

Executive officer for the non-profit group Northern Futures, Lou Brazier, said Work for the Dole did not necessarily prepare young people for a job.

"Our experience is that people from generational disadvantage do want to work and once they have received that help, they go on to success" she said.

"Work for the Dole does not free them up to train."

Young jobseekers subject to the scheme will need to do six months' work in not-for-profit organisations, local councils, or federal and state government agencies.

Work for the Dole program areas: NSW: Fairfield (Liverpool), Nepean, Outer Western Sydney (including Blue Mountains), Central Coast, Shoalhaven, Richmond, Tweed, Clarence Valley (including Ballina and Byron Bay), Coffs Harbour, Macleay, Hastings QLD: Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Outer North Brisbane, Cairns, Logan VIC: Westgate, Goulburn Valley, Peninsula, Geelong WA: Central and West Metro (Perth) SA: Northern Adelaide (including Gawler) TAS: West and North West Launceston

University of Melbourne Professor of Economics Jeff Borland agreed the Work for the Dole program would not help reduce unemployment.

"People only get back to work when there's enough employment creation," Professor Borland told the ABC's World Today program.

"We know that you need growth of about 3.2 per cent per annum for unemployment to be falling."

He said such schemes did not provide an uplift in people's skills and employability.

"This is an example of a type of scheme that's called public sector job creation, where the Government is essentially paying to create jobs for people who are unemployed," he said.

"The track record of those type of schemes in Australia and internationally is that they don't tend to have a very good record of assisting people to move into employment."

Work for the Dole 'helps young jobseekers': Hartsuyker

Assistant Federal Minister for Employment Luke Hartsuyker said the scheme would help young unemployed people get back into the workforce.

"Work for the Dole is an important part of the Government's plan to help young jobseekers gain the skills and experience they need to move from welfare to work and make a positive contribution to their local community," Mr Hartsuyker said.

"[It] provides participants with the chance to demonstrate many of the skills and behaviours that employers look for in candidates, such as commitment, teamwork and punctuality," he said.

However, some service providers in Geelong are sceptical about the program's effectiveness.

The chief executive of youth support agency Barwon Youth, John Townsend, said the soon to be axed Youth Connections program was much more valuable for young people who had become disengaged from school.

"We don’t agree that it is any suitable solution," Mr Townsend said.

"Work for Dole doesn't fit the bill for everybody

"The ideal from our position as a youth service in Geelong would be if employers taking young people in Work for the Dole situations would be able to offer an apprenticeship or some form of employment instead.

"With the job losses at places like Alcoa and Ford, we all wonder where the unskilled labour market is going to end up.

"It's not looking good for Geelong."