Action needed to tackle youth unemployment - chamber
A small fall in the number of the East Midlands' Jobseeker's Allowance claimants is welcome but could be accounted for in part to seasonal temporary work contracts, according to a chamber of commerce.
George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "The fall in the number of JSA claimants across our two counties in October is welcome news, although perhaps unsurprising given that the traditional increase in seasonal contracts ahead of the Christmas period is now beginning to filter through.
"However, the increase in youth unemployment is a major worry. The most vital component of our economy is a first-class education system, yet the present system fails too many young people. We have those that have the education and skills that allow them to compete with an increasingly global workforce, and those that leave school with minimal or no qualifications and face a future of life trapped on welfare."
According to data from the Office for National Statistics, the number of people claiming JSA in Derbyshire fell by 376 in October to 15,995. Nottinghamshire claimants also dropped from 16,587 in September to 16,587 in October.
