Long-term unemployment

Long-term unemployment for the young and the over-50s is at crisis levels and getting worse, the TUC has warned.

While unemployment has fallen by 51,000 over the last three months, the number of people out of work for at least a year has continued to rise among all age groups. Nearly half (45%) of unemployed workers aged over 50 have now been out of work for a year or more, prompting concern that many may be forced into premature retirement and poverty.

The number of 18- to 24-year-olds out of work for at least six months has increased particularly quickly, rising by over a third in the last 12 months to reach 403,000.

The TUC wants to see a guarantee of training or work paying at least the minimum wage for any young person out of work for at least six months, as well as a new youth credit to replace the scrapped Educational Maintenance Allowance.