One in five young people facing long-term unemployment, ONS figures show
Fiona Simpson
Thursday, July 15, 2021
One in five young unemployed people have been out of work for more than a year, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals.
The latest labour market update from ONS shows that 110,000 people aged 16 to 24 who were unemployed and looking for work between March and May have been in the same position for more than a year - 63 per cent increase on the period last year.
A further 112,000 people have been unemployed for six months to a year.
The figures come despite the number of unemployed young people (539,000) being four per cent lower between March and May this year compared with the same time period last year.
Organisations supporting young people have raised concerns over the figures, warning youth unemployment figures will worsen when Covid-19 support including the furlough scheme and £20 Universal Credit uplift are scrapped in the coming months.
Steve Haines, director of public affairs at youth charity Impetus said: “We’re beginning to see an uneven recovery, with young people bearing the brunt.
“The government needs to do more to support young people who have fallen out of work - while unemployment for young people is marginally lower than this time last year, over one in five of them are long-term unemployed, compared to one in eight 12 months ago. We are fast approaching the end of furlough when we'll see hundreds of thousands more young people out of the labour market, and they will join those leaving education on the list of those looking for work.
“Over a year ago the Prime Minister promised an ‘Opportunity Guarantee’ for young people, we need to see targeted support to address the young people worst affected by the crisis.”
Paul Noblet, head of public affairs at Centrepoint, added: “Despite unemployment decreasing from its peak the levels are still much higher than before the pandemic. Although restrictions are being lifted the country is still suffering from the fallout of the pandemic, and we are still witnessing many young people who are unemployed or worried about losing their jobs.
“With the end of the furlough scheme ahead, more young people are set to find themselves in vulnerable positions. The right support needs to be put in place and the Universal Credit uplift of £20 needs to be maintained, in order to help young people get back into the job market .”
