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The organisation surveyed
the number of young people in receipt of Jobs Seekers Allowance in
February 2008 and May 2009 and compared the two totals.
Out of 63 cities surveyed,
Peterborough ranks as the 13th worst increase in young jobless –
along with Middlesbrough, Hastings, Wigan, Wakefield and Birkenhead.
Youth unemployment across the UK has risen from 13.8% to 18.3% since
the recession began.
In February last year 1.81% of young
people in Peterborough were in receipt of JSA (about 1 in 50
youngsters) – the figure last month (May 2009) was 7.78% - a
five-fold rise to 1 in 13 youngsters.
The Government’s £1 billion Future
Jobs Fund announced in the 2009 Budget, aims to create 150,000 new
jobs during 2009/11 for long-term unemployed young people – less
than half the number who will be unemployed by December 2011.
Stewart commented: “These statistics
are very worrying and show that the jobs market is proving very
difficult for young people, many of whom lack the skills needed to
get into permanent work.
"It’s
crucial that the Government targets its efforts at the worst
affected areas like Peterborough where the impact of the recession
has been most marked.
"There is
a danger that those who are struggling to get into work will drift
into long term unemployment and welfare dependency.”
Stewart
Jackson was elected in May 2005 to represent the
Peterborough constituency in the House of Commons.
To find out more about him, his views and activities, visit his
website at
www.stewartjackson.org.uk
Peterborough UK
Community Website - June 2009
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