Young jobseekers and the Department for Work and Pensions
A Westminster Hall debate on Young Jobseekers and the Department of Work and Pensions has been scheduled for Tuesday 27 October 2015 at 16:30. The Member in charge of the debate is Ms Chloe Smith. Prior to this Westminster Hall debate, Digital outreach will be holding a debate on Twitter on 27/10/15 between 19:30 and 20:30 using the hashtag #youngjobseekers
The latest data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that between June and August 2015 there were 683,000 unemployed people aged 16-24. This number includes 231,000 full-time students looking for part-time work.
For June to August 2015, the unemployment rate for 16 to 24 year olds was 14.8% a fall of 1.1 percentage points on the previous quarter. Thuis is 7.7 percentage points lower than the highest rate of youth unemployment recorded in the UK (22.5% in late 2011). Since records began in 1992, the lowest rate of unemployment among 16-24 year olds was 11.6% in March to May 2011.
Nor more information see: Youth Unemployment Statistics - Commons Library Briefing Paper
People claiming unemployment benefits183,200 people aged 18-24 were claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) or were out of work and claiming Universal Credit in September 2015. This was 2,400 higher than in the previous month but was 45,800 lower than the year before:
Government programmesThe Government has introduced a number of schemes targeting young people as part of its wider welfare-to-work policies. More information can be found in the following library notes:
Work Experience Schemes - Commons Library Briefing Paper
New Enterprise Allowance - Commons Library Briefing Paper
Apprenticeships Policy - Commons Library Briefing Paper
Traineeships - Commons Library Briefing Paper