Youth unemployment has reached a record high of 1.02 million, with 22 per cent of 16- to 24-year-olds out of work.
The number of jobless young people rose by 67,000 in the three months to September to 1.02 million – the highest since records began 19 years ago.
Total unemployment rose to 2.62 million, the worst figure since 1994, meaning that 8.3 per cent of the population is out of work.
Other data from the Office for National Statistics showed a 5,300 increase in the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance in October to 1.6 million, marking the eighth consecutive monthly rise.
Employment Minister Chris Grayling said: “These figures show just how much our economy is being affected by the crisis in the eurozone. Our European partners must take urgent action to stabilise the position.
“Our challenge in the autumn statement will be to put in place additional measures to support growth and create employment opportunities, especially for young people.”
The news was greeted with dismay by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, who told the House of Lords that the impact of youth unemployment could linger long after the recession had ended. Addressing the work and pensions minister Lord Freud, the bishop asked:
“Would you agree that instead of decimating youth services at this time, the Government should be seriously investing more in such work so that we have some chance of avoiding the loss of a whole generation to cynicism and hopelessness.”
The Labour peer Lord Knight of Weymouth told the House of Lords: “This crisis is down to the Government’s decisions to scrap the EMA, cut post-16 education funding, scrap the Future Jobs Fund and an austerity plan that has choked off growth.”
FactCheck: Are there any jobs out there?
The government insists there are jobs out there - with 10,000 new jobs advertised at the JobCentre every day apparently. Is this true? FactCheck investigates.
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