Job losses hit the under-25s

By Tamasin Ford Radio 1 Newsbeat, Hull

Youth unemployment is a national problem but in some cities, like Hull, it is a stark reality.

Famous for its docks and the Humber bridge, it is now more recently known for having the highest percentage of under-25s claiming Jobseekers Allowance than any other city in Britain - 22-year-old Simon Muller is one of them.

Saeed feels like he's "wasting his life" on Jobseekers allowance

"I've been out of work for a year-and-a-half now. I'm still looking for any kind of work, whether it's factory or retail," he says.

Simon is one of 12 young unemployed people taking part in a week-long scheme at the KC stadium, home of the city's football and rugby league sides.

Backed by the Prince's Trust and funded by the Premier League, the Football Federation and the Professional Footballers Association, it is about inspiring young people to get them back into the world of work.

Jobs gloom

"It's just really hard as there isn't anything out there. I'm just really frustrated and angry," adds Simon.

He is not alone, Saeed Ali, who is also on the course, has now been out of work for eight months. His only source of income is also Jobseekers Allowance.

"I'm just wasting my life. It's so hard because a) you don't have any money and b) you feel useless really," Saeed says.

"You can't do anything, there's nothing to look forward to and you basically just give up on life."

Employment concerns

As people like Saeed and Simon prepare for another evening of scouring through the scant jobs pages, it's graduation day at Hull University for 21-year-old Charlotte Parker from the Wirral.

"There just aren't any jobs around. It does worry me because I think, 'am I going to come back and just get a job I'm not interested in just so I can afford to live?'," she says.

The number of young people out of employment is costing the economy millions every week Dee Kundra, Prince's Trust

Charlotte's putting off getting a job for a couple of years to go travelling.

"I've worked so hard to get my degree and I'm going to work even harder to get my masters and then to have to settle for a job I don't really want to do, it's a bit of a scary thought. It's not something I'm looking forward too."

Hull is not alone in its battle against youth unemployment.

Sunderland, Barnsley, Doncaster and Hastings all have high numbers of young people without work and on benefits too.

Poor prospects

While other cities like Swindon, Milton Keynes and Northampton have seen a huge jump in the number of under-25s claiming Jobseeker's allowance in the last year.

"Too many young people at the moment are facing a bleak future," says Dee Kundra, from the Prince's Trust.

Hull is trying new methods to get people back into work

"The number of young people out of employment is costing the economy millions every week."

Under-25s now make up one in five of Britain's working population, but also make up two in five of the unemployed.

"In the past 12 months the Prince's Trust has seen a 50% increase in the number of calls we're getting for help. So we can really tell the young people we help are being affected by this recession," she adds.

The number of young people out of work is at its highest level for 15 years.

The government is investing £1bn in the Future Jobs Fund to create 150,000 new jobs for long term unemployed young people between 2009-2011.

"We're willing to put our money where our mouth is and make sure there is a real intervention from the government now rather than going back to the old days where unemployment was a price worth paying," says employment minister Jim Knight.

Turning a corner?

However, with long-term youth unemployment expected to almost treble between now and 2011 there is a worry this new proposal may just act as a sticking plaster for the potential 350,000 young people out of work in just over two years time.

Charlotte plans to travel before thinking about hunting for jobs

"Of course I'm worried about youth unemployment but the notion that there aren't any new jobs around is false," adds Mr Knight.

"There are quite a few jobs coming through, we've just got to make sure the young people are well placed to get them."

And for some people like Lewis Valentine, of Bridlington, who works as a glass collector in Hull, it is all about perseverance.

"It's not hard to get a job at all," says the 17-year-old. There's loads of jobs out there you just need to know where to look.

"If you just go for a part-time job and then go back to college, you're in the right direction aren't you. If you really want to do it, you'll do it."

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