TUC - Rise in young people not in education and employment is the result of “toxic Tory economic legacy”

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Issue date

21 Nov 2024

Number of young people out of work, education and training is heading towards a million – official data shows

Union body says Labour’s youth guarantee commitment is vital to reverse damage

Commenting on new ONS data published today (Thursday), showing that the number of young people aged 16 to 24 years not in education, employment or training has increased by 9% in the last year from 871,000 to 946,000, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:

"Every young person needs a good start to their working life, to set them on a path of opportunity and security.

“But what we are seeing today is that young people are paying the price of the Tory’s toxic economic legacy.

“We need to act now. Extended periods of unemployment can severely affect the long-term career prospects and financial stability of young people.

“Young people up and down the country are facing the same cost of living crisis as everybody else. So long periods without earning have the very real potential to push more into poverty.

“We welcome Labour’s youth guarantee commitment. It is vital that these plans offer young people good quality training and access to decent, paid work.”

ENDS

Editors note

Notes to editors:

- According to ONS figures, the number of young people aged 16 to 24 years not in education, employment or training recorded for the July-September 2024 period is 946,000, up from 871,000 in the same period in 2023.

- This represents an increase to 13.2 as a percentage of people aged 16 to 24 years, up from 12.3 in the same period for 2023.

- About the TUC: The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together the 5.5 million working people who make up our 48 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.

Contacts:

TUC press office 
media@tuc.org.uk  
020 7467 1248 

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