THE NUMBER of young people looking for work has risen throughout Hampshire, new figures show.
A total of 7,030 18 to 24-year-olds were claiming unemployment benefit in October across the Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council and Isle of Wight areas – up from 5,635 a year ago.
In some areas this represented almost one in ten young people, even allowing for students and those not actively seeking work, a local analysis by the Daily Echo revealed.
It comes as the total number of jobless young people across the country passed one million.
Employment Minister Chris Grayling admitted there was “no doubt” that youth unemployment was rising.
He said: “There is a genuine reluctance on the part of employers to hire people straight from school, college or university.
“We are combating the age-old problem that you can’t get experience without a job, and you can’t get a job without experience.”
The unemployment rate was highest on the Isle of Wight, where 9.6 per cent of 18 to 24- year-olds were claiming jobseeker’s allowance last month, but was just 2.8 per cent in Winchester.
In Southampton 4.1 per cent of young people are looking for work. The total increased across the Hampshire County Council area, from 4,280 in October 2010 to 5,270 last month, and in the Southampton City Council area, from 1,355 to 1,760.
Yesterday’s figures came as the jobless total in the wider 16 to 24- year-old category passed one million nationwide for the first time since comparable records began in 1992. It also includes full-time students looking for part-time jobs, who are ineligible for jobseekers’ allowance.
BREAKDOWN BY AREA:
The number of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming jobseekers’ allowance in October 2011 Local authority As a percentage of total 18 to 24-year-olds Basingstoke and Deane 610 5.2 Eastleigh 500 5.1 Fareham 435 4.7 Gosport 585 8.0 Isle of Wight 995 9.6 New Forest 605 5.0 Southampton 1,760 4.1 Test Valley 390 5.0 Winchester 300 2.8
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel