The UK economy was dealt another blow today as the latest unemployment figures showed record levels of unemployment, particularly among young people. Statistics from the Office for National Statistics showed unemployment among young people at its highest level, surpassing a million for the first time. Some 178,000 people above the age of 16 are unemployed in the South West.
Managing director of Pertemps Recruitment Partnership, Carmen Watson said: “We are in danger of seeing an entire generation of young people that is falling through the holes in the system designed to create employment. It may be too early to expect to see the results of the Government’s Work Programme, which was introduced earlier this year, but in the meantime, thousands more young people in the South West are becoming disaffected by the harsh and challenging conditions we’re seeing in the job market.
“Be that as it may, there are steps young people can take to make themselves more employable and avoid joining the ever expanding ranks of long term unemployed people. As well as looking at the opportunities available for temporary work, young people should also look at how their transferrable skills lend themselves to the sectors that are growing at a faster rate than some of the others. Savvy job seekers who do their research into these industries and create a polished persona to present to potential employers will give themselves a huge advantage.”
