In the G8, the world’s eight richest economies, Britain has seen the fastest rise in youth unemployment since the financial crash according to a report published by the Work Foundation. Of the 34 OECD countries only Greece and Spain have higher rates.
The Foundation pointed out that Germany, in particular, has managed to achieve a consistently low level of youth unemployment, due mainly to its strong apprenticeship system. It also quoted experience from Australia and the complete ineffectiveness there of “work for dole” schemes the government is trying to impose here. The evidence was that forcing young people onto such schemes led to their dropping out of the system or ceasing to search for work.
Latest figures show 993,000 16- to 24-year-olds jobless in Britain, a youth unemployment rate of 21.2 per cent. ■