More than one in six young people are now claiming out-of-work benefits in some parts of the UK, with an increase also recorded in those claiming in the Southampton Itchen constituency between March and June.
• Southampton to host first Virtual Jobs Fair
Photo: under CC2 by Helen Cobain
Claimants of universal credit or jobseeker's allowance aged 18-24 doubled in the UK in the last three months - standing at more than 500,000, BBC analysis of official figures suggests.
In the Southampton Itchen constituency, the proportion of the population claiming claiming out-of-work benefits aged 16-24 doubled from March to June from 3% to 6%, according to Office for National Statistics figures analysed by the BBC’s Shared Data Unit.
That would equate to around 1,090 young people now claiming in the constituency.
In the UK, 2.6 million people are currently claiming Universal Credit (UC) or Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA) and are required to "seek work". A fifth of those - some 514,770 young people - are aged between 18 and 24.
Worst hit has been parts of Liverpool and Blackpool, with closures of pubs, cafes and restaurants all contributing.
The number of young new claimants who have signed on between March and June is 276,000 - more than doubling over three months.
Professor Guy Michaels, of the London School of Economics, commented: “Each recession is different but there is a worry that this isn’t going to go anywhere quickly.
“It is important that the public policy response is strong. But whatever the usual arguments are in terms of incentivising young people to work - it’s clear that the vacancies aren’t there.
“Part of the numbers are not there yet. As much as the figures show a sharp rise, this perhaps understates the underlying problem because of the furloughing scheme which has been successful at preserving jobs.
“It’s true that once support goes, some businesses will go under. Some jobs will disappear even if jobs survive.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a £2bn ‘kickstart’ scheme to help young workers.
• Southampton to host first Virtual Jobs Fair
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