Young jobless total doubles to 1 million

YOUTH unemployment has virtually doubled to nearly a million since the recession started, according to two charities.

The number of 16- to 24-year-olds out of work has risen from 497,900 in April 1990, when the economy started to decline, to 914,800 last October, Youthaid and the Unemployment Unit say. According to their calculations, the jobless rate among young people has risen from 8.5 per cent to 17 per cent, so that more than one in six young people are jobless. THe charities estimate that unemployment has risen by more than a quarter of a million in the last year alone.

The number of the youngest unemployed has jumped to 124,700 - the highest since January 1987. There are no official statistics because the Government does not count jobless 16- and 17-year-olds. All school-leavers are said to be guaranteed a place on the state Youth Training programme if they cannot find work.

The charities believe that 97,300 of the unemployed school leavers receive no state help. The benefit 'safety net' was abolished for 16- and 17-year-olds in September 1988.

In London and the South-east - the worst-hit area - the number of jobless 16- and 17-year-olds has risen by 160 per cent in two years, an increase of 19,400.

The charities' report emerges as the Association of Metropolitan Authorities is warning Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Employment, that the Youth Training guarantee would be 'in deep trouble' next year because of the recession and financial difficulties of the authorities. Pat Mullany, chair of the AMA education committee, has written to Mrs Shephard requesting an urgent meeting.

The independent Employment Institute warns European ministers meeting in Edinburgh today that any economic recovery package would have to include a commitment to eliminate long-term unemployment.