The Office of National Statistics figures show that from January to March this year the number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) rose to 941,000.
This is a rise of 18,000 on figures released for the previous three months.
The total number of people out of work rose by 53,000 to 2.5m during from January to March this year. This is the highest total since December 1994.
Tackling youth unemployment has emerged as a central policy of the new coalition government.
Ministers are looking to cut all existing welfare to work programmes and replace them with a single initiative. All Jobseeker's Allowance claimants under the age of 25 will be automatically referred to this new scheme once they have been out of work for six months.
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Rising numbers of Neet young people a key issue for coalition government
The number of 16- to 24-year-olds out of work rose during the first three months of the year.
