Youth unemployment — top hotspots

The lack of employment opportunities among 16- to 24-year-olds remains widespread, with more than 10 UK cities having youth unemployment higher than 25%, according to the Work Foundation think tank.

Its report, The geography of youth unemployment — a route map for change, showed the worst affected areas of the UK, and out of the 10 worst only one is in the south (Plymouth).

The urban area with the highest unemployment was Middleborough & Stockton, where 33.3% of young people were out of work. Barnsley and Glasgow were the next worst affected areas, with 28.9% and 27.2% respectively.

In a separate report, A tale of two cities, the Work Foundation examined youth unemployment in London. The research highlighted a marked difference of 18 percentage points (14% to 32%) between unemployment rates of young white people and those from Black African and Caribbean ethnic groups.

The report’s lead author, Ceri Hughes, said that this gap needed addressing. However, she added that other inequalities should not be ignored in the capital.

“London is home to large numbers of people in poverty who are likely to have fewer resources to draw on in supporting their children as they transition into work,” she said. “At present, these inequalities are not sufficiently accounted for, leaving these groups further disadvantaged.”

www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1143339/youth-unemployment-despite-recovery

www.theworkfoundation.com/Reports/360/The-geography-of-youth-unemployment-a-route-map-for-change

www.theworkfoundation.com/Reports/361/London-A-Tale-of-Two-Cities