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Young black men have experienced the sharpest rise in unemployment since the coalition came to power, with more than one in four of all black 16-24 year olds (26 per cent) currently out of work, according to a TUC report on youth unemployment published today (Wednesday).

date: 16 October 2012

embargo: 00.01hrs Wednesday 17 October 2012

Young black men have experienced the sharpest rise in unemployment since the coalition came to power, with more than one in four of all black 16-24 year olds (26 per cent) currently out of work, according to a TUC report on youth unemployment published today (Wednesday).

The TUC report, published to coincide with the TUC Poverty conference at its central London HQ today, analyses official data on youth unemployment proportions and worklessness rates (16-24 year olds neither in work nor training) over the last decade.

The report also finds that white and Asian youngsters are now twice as likely to be unemployed as those from the same ethnic group over the age of 24.

Young black men are more likely to be unemployed than any other ethnic group, with over one in four (26 per cent) currently out of work. Young black women are the next most likely to be out of work (17 per cent), followed by white and Asian men (both 16 per cent).

Young Asian women have experienced the sharpest rise in unemployment over the last decade, rising from 6 per cent in 2002 to 13 per cent in 2012. However, they are still less likely to be unemployed than most other people their age.

The analysis shows that men are more likely to be unemployed than women amongst all ethnic groups, though the gender divide is starkest among white and black youngsters.

The proportion of young people who are not in work or education has been more stable, with worklessness rates for black and Asian youngsters actually falling between 2002 and 2010, most likely because high numbers of young people from these groups entered further and higher education, says the TUC.

However, in the last two years worklessness rates have started rising again. Young black men have once again been the most affected, increasing from 15 per cent to 22 per cent in the last two years.

The scrapping of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and the abolition of college-based apprenticeships are likely to have played a key role in holding back education prospects for young black men, the TUC says.

The report is released ahead of the latest unemployment statistics published later this morning and the TUC organised march and rally in central London this Saturday, where tens of thousands of people will be calling for an end to austerity economics and a future that works for everyone, including young people struggling to find or afford further education.

Further TUC research on long-term youth unemployment, published earlier this week, found that the number of 16-24 year olds out of work for at least six months had increased by 23 per cent over the last two years.

Support programmes to help young people back into work have been cut by 26 per cent over the same time period, illustrating the government's failure to put sufficient resources into tackling the UK's youth jobs crisis, says the TUC.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The UK is in the midst of a youth jobs crisis. Over a million youngsters are out of work and many more are struggling to find the finances needed to further their education.

'Last week the Prime Minister singled out employment as a great success of the government. That's cold comfort to the one in four young black men struggling for work, or the one in six jobless young black women.

'It's shocking that with so many young people unable to find jobs, ministers have slashed support to help them get their careers off the ground. This short-sighted attitude is not just making young people angry, it's hurting the parents and grandparents of young people who desperately want them to have a better start to their working lives.

'That is why people of all generations will be marching through London this Saturday calling for an end to austerity economics and a future that works for everyone.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Proportion of 16-24 year olds unemployed by gender and ethnicity, 2002-2012

2002

2008

2010

2012

All

White

8%

8%

12%

13%

Asian or Asian British

8%

12%

13%

15%

Black or Black British

13%

16%

19%

21%

Men

White

10%

10%

15%

16%

Asian or Asian British

10%

16%

15%

16%

Black or Black British

14%

22%

21%

26%

Female

White

6%

7%

9%

10%

Asian or Asian British

6%

9%

11%

13%

Black or Black British

11%

10%

16%

17%

Proportion of 16-24 year olds, not in employment and not in education by ethnicity and gender, 2002-12

2002

2008

2010

2012

All

White

13%

14%

16%

All

White

17%

Asian or Asian British

17%

17%

16%

Indian

9%

Pakistani and Bangladeshi

21%

Black or Black British

17%

19%

15%

Black or Black British

21%

Men

White

12%

12%

16%

Men

White

16%

Asian or Asian British

13%

13%

12%

Indian

9%

Pakistani and Bangladeshi

18%

Black or Black British

15%

19%

15%

Black or Black British

22%

Female

White

15%

15%

17%

Women

White

17%

Asian or Asian British

22%

21%

22%

Indian

10%

Pakistani and Bangladeshi

23%

Black or Black British

20%

19%

16%

Black or /Black British

19%

Source: Labour Force Survey

- The report uses the unemployment proportion (the proportion of all young people in each group who are unemployed) rather than unemployment rates (which only consider the proportion of 'economically active' young people in each group who are unemployed), as this is a better measure for reflecting the differences between ethnic groups. Unemployment rates are far higher, with 50 per cent of young black men currently unemployed.

- The TUC report is available at http://bit.ly/SWnGlR.

- Further information about the TUC Poverty Conference is available at www.tuc.org.uk/events/detail.cfm?event=3508

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

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

- On Saturday 20 October thousands of people from across the UK will be heading to London for A Future That Works - a march which starts on the Embankment and ends with a rally in Hyde Park. The day is being organised by the TUC in protest against the government's austerity measures and calls for a new approach which puts growth and an economy that works for ordinary families at the heart of government policy www.afuturethatworks.org

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk

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