The latest employment figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have shown that the number of young people that are out of work in the UK has reached a record high. Young people have accounted for nearly two-thirds of job losses since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the ONS’s official figures.
The regional employment figures that have been released by the ONS have shown that long-term unemployment has risen 40% over the same period at the beginning of 2020 with 215,000 young people out of work for six months or more. In addition to this, of all 16- to 24-year-olds who are currently unemployed, 74% have been unemployed for at least six months.
A report has been published by the National Youth Agency and Youth Employment UK that says it would take 1,000 new jobs and training places a day to get back to pre-pandemic levels of employment by October 2021. The chief executive of the National Youth Agency is Leigh Middleton and he has said: “The government needs to be honest with young people. We simply cannot create enough job opportunities. Without concerted action, we fear youth unemployment could rise to over 1 million when furlough ends”.
The latest numbers show 437,000 fewer 16- to 24-year-olds were in paid employment compared to 12 months ago. a 10% fall in 12 months. . In addition to this, more than half of under-25s have been furloughed or lost their jobs during the pandemic.
However, a spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions has pointed to government successes. They have said: “Kickstart has created nearly 150,000 jobs across the country since it launched, with thousands of young people already started, new vacancies becoming available every day and some already in permanent roles. At the end of the six months young people will have the skills and experience needed to help them get their next job, and with many opportunities to work virtually, more apprenticeships and traineeships, and by expanding our network of youth hubs, we’re ensuring our help reaches as many young people as possible, wherever they are in the UK”.
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Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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