Member Article

Youth Unemployment on the rise in the region

Youth unemployment in the North East has shown the biggest deterioration in the last 12 months, according to new figures.

The TUC has reported that every local authority in the region has seen an average increase in youth unemployment of over 20%, ahead of the release of official unemployment statistics due for release next week.

New figures released by the Office of National Statistics are expected to show that more than a million young people aged between 18-24 are out of work.

The local authority areas that saw the biggest rise in jobseekers between September 2010 and September 2011 were also found to be in the North East. Hartlepool and Darlington saw increases in individuals claiming Jobseekers Allowance rise by 3.5% and 3.2% respectively.

The TUC believes these new figures show a deepening of a North South divide, and the union is now encouraging the government to change their approach to youth unemployment.

Regional Secretary Kevin Rowan believes the Conservative–led government is now throttling the hopes of young people in the region.

He commented: “Ministers have chosen to abolish the Future Jobs Fund, ended the Educational Maintenance Allowance, trebled university fees and undermined the sectors and industries that employ the most young people.

“It is little consolation to the people of Hartlepool, darling ton and Jarrow that leafier areas of the South have stemmed the tide in rising unemployment.

“We need a government that backs not sacks young people, and the damage done now could be felt for years.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .