TUC – Rise in young people not in education and employment is the result of “toxic Tory economic legacy”

• Number of young people out of work, education and training is heading towards a million – official data shows

• Union body says Labour’s youth guarantee commitment is vital to reverse damage

Commenting on new ONS data published today (Thursday), showing that the number of young people aged 16 to 24 years not in education, employment or training has increased by 9% in the last year from 871,000 to 946,000, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:

“Every young person needs a good start to their working life, to set them on a path of opportunity and security.

“But what we are seeing today is that young people are paying the price of the Tory’s toxic economic legacy.

“We need to act now. Extended periods of unemployment can severely affect the long-term career prospects and financial stability of young people.

“Young people up and down the country are facing the same cost of living crisis as everybody else. So long periods without earning have the very real potential to push more into poverty.

“We welcome Labour’s youth guarantee commitment. It is vital that these plans offer young people good quality training and access to decent, paid work.”