Youth Unemplyment
date: 10 August 2010
embargo: 00.01hrs Wednesday 11 August 2010
The number of 18-24 year olds on the dole for over six months has increased in ten local authorities across Yorkshire and the Humber since last year, compared to just five 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 28 per cent across Yorkshire and Humber in the last year to reach 11,320 in June 2010.
Across the UK long-term youth unemployment has increased by 21 per cent to reach 103,230 in June 2010. However this 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 sharpest increases in long-term young unemployed people across the region were in North East Lincolnshire (+107 per cent), Kingston upon Hull (+82 per cent), Sheffield (+81 per cent) and in the East Riding of Yorkshire (+73 per cent).
The sharpest falls in long-term youth unemployment were in Calderdale (down 16 per cent) and Wakefield (down 15 per cent).
With unemployment figures published this morning due to show a further rise in overall and 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 youth unemployment edging closer to one million 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.
The TUC analysis comes as a separate study published jointly by the Prince's Trust and Qa Research shows that young people from workless families are more likely to struggle to find a job themselves. A total of 167,000 children in Yorkshire - more than one in six - are living in families where no one works with Hull, Barnsley and Rotherham being highlighted as problem areas.
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 policy officer for Yorkshire and the Humber John Lewis 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's focus 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, the Government has yet to announce similarly well-funded support to get people back into decent paid work. Young people struggling for work in our region 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
|
Local Authority |
June 2009 |
June 2010 |
Change (number) |
Change (per cent) |
|
North East Lincolnshire |
290 |
600 |
310 |
107 |
|
Kingston upon Hull |
870 |
1,580 |
710 |
82 |
|
Sheffield |
870 |
1,575 |
705 |
81 |
|
East Riding of Yorkshire |
320 |
555 |
235 |
73 |
|
North Yorkshire |
400 |
610 |
210 |
53 |
|
York |
145 |
205 |
60 |
41 |
|
North Lincolnshire |
390 |
500` |
110 |
28 |
|
Barnsley |
550 |
705 |
155 |
28 |
|
Doncaster |
795 |
990 |
195 |
24.5 |
|
Rotherham |
645 |
785 |
140 |
21.7 |
|
Bradford |
715 |
705 |
-15 |
-2 |
|
Kirklees |
670 |
595 |
-75 |
-11 |
|
Leeds |
1365 |
1210 |
-155 |
-11 |
|
Wakefield |
500 |
425 |
-75 |
-15 |
|
Calderdale |
340 |
285 |
-55 |
-16 |
|
Yorkshire and Humber |
8,860 |
11,320 |
2,460 |
28 |
- The figures for long-term youth unemployment for every local authority are available at www.tuc.org.uk/extras/youthunemploymentJune2010
- 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:
John Lewis T: 0113 242 9696 M: 07780 662 748 E: jlewis@tuc.org.uk
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