Youth unemployment major problem

The think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) says a full-blown economic recovery will not fix the UK's youth unemployment problem.

Its latest report says despite steady falls in unemployment, there are still 868,000 out of work 16 to 24-year-olds.

Later this morning the latest official UK unemployment figures will be revealed.

They have been falling steadily for the last year.

Gap

The IPPR highlights a striking mismatch between what young people are training for and the types of jobs available.

For example, it says, 94,000 people were trained in beauty and hair for just 18,000 jobs, while only 123,000 were trained in the construction and engineering sectors for an advertised 275,000 jobs.

The IPPR says youth unemployment is lower in countries where the vocational route into employment through formal education and training is as clear as the academic route.

It says this helps as it puts the two on a higher perceived footing.

'Misleading'

Although the youth unemployment rate has fallen sharply from 20.9% a year ago to 17.8%, the IPPR says there are still 868,000 young people aged 16 to 24 unemployed and 247,000 of them have been looking for work for over a year.

Around 700,000 young people have never had a job.

A Work and Pensions Department spokesperson said the IPPR's report was "misleading", but added: "We know there is more to do, which is why as part of the government's long-term economic plan we offer a range of support to young people and businesses."

Tony Dolphin, IPPR Chief Economist, said: "We can learn lots from countries like Germany and the Netherlands.

"A strong workplace-based vocational education and training system, with high employer involvement, contributes more to a smoother transition from education to work and a low rate of youth unemployment than anything else."

The official figures are expected to show another fall in unemployment and in the numbers claiming jobseeker's allowance.

Youth unemployment major problem

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