Search

date: 10 August 2010

embargo: 00.01hrs Wednesday 11 August 2010

Youth unemployment increasing in two thirds of local authorities across UK

The number of 18-24 year olds on the dole for over six months has increased in 142 local authorities across the UK since last year, compared to just 78 where it has fallen, according to a TUC analysis published ahead of the latest unemployment statistics today (Wednesday).

The TUC analysis of Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) data shows that the number of young people claiming the dole for over six months has increased by 21 per cent in the last year to reach 103,230 in June 2010.

However the number of 18-24 year olds claiming JSA represents less than a third of the total number of young people out of work for over six months, which reached 338,000 between March and May 2010.

The number of long-term young unemployed people has doubled in ten local authorities across the UK, with Medway (+158 per cent), West Lothian (+121 per cent) and South Ayrshire (+120 per cent) experiencing the sharpest increases.

Southampton (-62 per cent), Stirling (-46 per cent) and Halton (-44 per cent) have experienced the sharpest falls in long-term youth unemployment levels over the last year.

With unemployment figures published this morning due to show a further rise in long-term unemployment, and the Bank of England set to reduce its quarterly growth forecasts, the TUC is urging the Government to reconsider its policy of deep, early spending cuts, which is already damaging growth and causing job losses to mount.

The TUC says that with the young people's unemployment rate already over 17 per cent (more than twice the national unemployment rate) and research showing that each graduate vacancy now receives an average of 69 applications, young people today are facing the toughest jobs climate in a generation.

Without further support and investment to help people into work, we risk losing a generation of talented young people to unemployment and damaged careers, warns the TUC.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'While bankers were back toasting their bonuses last week, figures today will confirm that the outlook for the millions of people still out of work is not so rosy.

'Young people were hit particularly hard by the recession and with the Government focusing on spending cuts, rather than getting people back into work, they may not fare much better during the recovery.

'Previous investment in employment schemes helped to keep many thousands of young people off benefits and in paid work. But having made an early decision to scrap the £1.2 billion Future Jobs Fund and the Young Person's Guarantee, the Government has yet to announce similarly well-funded support to get people back into decent paid work. Young people struggling for work this summer should be very concerned by the Government's silence.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Changes in the number of 18-24 year olds claiming JSA for over six months, best and worst by local authority

Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk

- The figures for long-term youth unemployment for every local authority are available at www.tuc.org.uk/extras/youthunemploymentJune2010.pdf

- The research by the Association of Graduate Recruiters is available at www.agr.org.uk/content/Class-of-2010-Faces-Uphill-Struggle-for-Jobs

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk

Press release (700 words) issued 11 Aug 2010