RECESSION GRINDS ON FOR STOCKPORT YOUNGSTERS AS 16-24 YEAR-OLDS SPEND EVEN LONGER ON THE DOLE

12.00.00pm GMT Mon 22nd Mar 2010

16-24 year-olds in Stockport spend around 15 weeks on the dole before getting a new job, almost double the length of time it took to get back to work in the Borough a year ago, according to new figures obtained by Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell.

The median or middle figure that youngsters were spending on the dole was 15.4 weeks as of December 2009, up from 8.4 weeks in January 2009. Many have been unemployed for longer. The total number of 16-24 year-olds not in employment, education or training (NEETs) now stands at 4,000 in the Borough, one in eight of all youngsters.

Andrew Stunell and the Liberal Democrats are now calling for the introduction of a paid internship scheme as part of a plan to ensure that no one under the age of 24 has to claim Job Seekers Allowance for more than 3 months without the right of access to training, apprenticeships, work experience or specialist back to work support.

Commenting Andrew Stunell said:

"This is another sad set of figures for young people, who are fast becoming a lost generation in this recession.

"People looking for work shouldn't have to wait six months to get intensive support - there must be help from day one so that young people get the support they need to get into work.

"Long-term unemployment can quickly become a way of life if it is not tackled early enough. That is why we are calling for a guarantee that young people will be given access to training, apprenticeships, work experience, or specialist support after no longer than three months to get them back to work early.

"It is vital that we don't consign young people to the employment scrap heap before they've even had the chance to work."

ENDS