Figures release by the Office for National Statistics today (12 October) reveal that between June and August there were around 205,000 young people aged 16 to 17 out of work and around 785,000 18- to 24-year-olds.
The youth unemployment rate stood at 21.3 per cent compared with 8.1 per cent for the population as a whole. In the previous quarter 973,000 young people were unemployed.
Employment minister Chris Grayling said the latest record figures included 270,000 students look for work, and claimed the true level of youth unemployment stood at 721,000.
"It is clear that we are seeing the effect of the international economic crisis on the UK labour market," he said. "That’s why last week we announced the right-to-buy housing scheme to support growth and today we are offering more support for jobseekers as sector-based work academies come on stream, combining real training, work experience and a guaranteed interview.
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