A Youth Jobs Summit hosted last weekend by Labour Youth Affairs Spokesperson Jacinda Ardern has shown that youth unemployment is a serious issue that needs to be addressed urgently.
Finsec Campaigns Director Andrew Campbell facilitated the Summit and says that the recession must not be allowed to create a new generation of long-term unemployed. Youth unemployment always runs higher than overall unemployment, but young people are even harder hit in difficult economic times.
In the March quarter unemployment for those aged 15-19 years rose from 17.9 percent to 19.6 percent. Sadly the news is much worse for those aged 20-24, where unemployment jumped 7.3 percent to 12 percent. That’s an extra 10,300 young people who are now without jobs
“The summit generated new ideas, such as guaranteeing employment or skills training for long-term unemployed people under the age of 25. A host of ideas emerged today during the formal sessions and the workshops, and I am looking forward to collating these and promoting debate about them wherever I can,” said Jacinda.
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