Labour Manifesto: Young people getting jobs

“Our manifesto is for you … Young people struggling to find a secure job.”

• Young people aged 16-24 are the most likely age group to be without a job while actively seeking one. Their unemployment rate is over 12%, compared to under 5% for the general population.
• That’s been changing: back in 2010 their unemployment rate was 20%, following sharp rises after the 2008 recession.
• Working out whether young people are unable to get a ‘secure job’ is harder. The figures we do have don’t always show people are struggling—in many cases people on zero hours or part time work do so by choice.
• 38% of 16-24 year olds work part time, compared to just over a quarter of the population. Many of them will be in full time education, so won’t want more hours.
• 5% of 16-24 year olds are self-employed, compared to 15% overall.
• The same age group are also the most likely to be on a zero-hours contract. One third of people on these contracts are aged 16-24 - that’s around 8% of all young people in work.