Youth Unemployment Hits Record Million

The number of young people out of work has passed one million as total unemployment hit its highest level since 1996, according to Government figures.

The number of unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds went up to 1.016 million, from 991,000 the previous month, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) .

Total unemployment increased by 129,000 between July and September to 2.62 million, a jobless rate of 8.3%.

However, the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance last month increased by just 5,300 to 1.6 million, it said, the smallest rise since February.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling told Sky News the eurozone debt crisis was to blame for the soaring number of jobless.

"If you go back four months unemployment was falling, youth unemployment was below 900,000. We've seen a big slowdown in the economy, I think as a result of the crisis elsewhere.

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He said that the message from business leaders who held a breakfast meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron this morning was that they were "now moving in a very cautious way".

"They've not yet seen a significant impact on their performance but they are holding on, they're not recruiting, they are taking a cautious approach because of what they are seeing elsewhere in the eurozone."

However, Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, said the Government should take some responsibility for the situation.

"For all the economic problems in other parts of Europe, the number of young people out of work is far higher in the UK than in other parts of Europe and is three times higher than in Germany," he said.

"Instead of attacking pensions and employment rights and making it easier to sack people, the Government should be pursuing policies to create jobs, which is something it is failing miserably to do."

The rise in youth unemployment is the eighth successive monthly increase and the highest figure since comparable records began in 1992.

Martina Milburn, chief executive of youth charity The Prince's Trust , said: "Today's figures are a wake-up call for Britain. It is critical to help young people into work for the future of our economy and society.

"It's time to redouble our efforts to ensure every young person, no matter what their background, is provided with the support they need and deserve."

Average earnings increased by 2.3% in the year to September, 0.4% down on the previous month, with average pay now £463 a week.

Long-term unemployment has also increased, with those out of work for more than a year rising by 31,000 to 868,000.

The number of people out of work for more than two years was 422,000, up by 13,000 from the three months to June.
Sky News