Member Article

North East's young people lose out in recession

Unemployment among 18 to 24-year-old has risen by nearly 60% over the past year, figures reveal today.

The figures show the number of young people in the region claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance has increased to 27,000 - a jump of 58% - costing the taxpayer more than £1.3m a week.

The data, from the Office for National Statistics, is contained in a report published today by youth charity The Prince’s Trust.

It shows that claims for Jobseeker’s Allowance cost the state £1,375,650 a week in the North East alone.

The Prince’s Trust has warned that the region’s poorest youngsters could be the hardest hit by the recession.

David Beavis, North East director for the charity, said: “Our region’s most vulnerable youngsters will be permanently damaged by the downturn, unless they receive the support they need.”

Alan Milburn, MP for Darlington, who leads a Government taskforce to get more young people into professions, said: “I am concerned in the rise in claimants. This is one of the reasons why the Prime Minister has asked me to look at opening up professions not traditionally available to everybody.

“We want to give people of all ages and of all walks of life a chance to get into medicine, perhaps, the Army or dentistry.”

Professor Cathy Pharoah, co-director of the Cass Business School’s Centre for living and Philanthropy, which co-published The Prince’s Trust report, said: “There are already 40,000 disadvantaged young people in the North East who are in need of our support and this will only increase unless we help young people into jobs.

“Only with their ideas and creativity will we be able to pull ourselves out of the recession.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .