Youth unemployment doubles in Falkirk district

The number of young people claiming out-of-work benefits in Falkirk district has doubled since March, according to new figures.

The total number of 18-24 year olds claiming Universal Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance has risen sharply in the last three months.

In June, 845 young people in the Falkirk constituency were claiming out-of-work benefits – that’s ten per cent of the area’s 18 to 24 year old population.

These latest figures show the numbers claiming these benefits has doubled since March when the coronavirus lockdown first came into place from five per cent to ten per cent.

A total of 845 of the constituency’s 8750 18 to 24 year olds had claimed for out-of-work benefits in June.

While in the Linlithgow and Falkirk East parliamentary constituency, which includes areas such as Maddiston, Slamannan, Grangemouth and Bo’ness, 900 young people were claiming out-of-work benefts in June.

A total of ten per cent of its 18 to 24 year old population, compared to six per cent in March pre-lockdown.

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed a £2 billion 'kickstart scheme' to create more jobs for young people earlier this month.

The fund will subsidise six-month work placements for people on Universal Credit aged between 16 and 24 and who are at risk of long-term unemployment.

Across the UK, 2.6 million people are currently claiming Universal Credit or Jobseekers' Allowance and are required to "seek work."

A fifth of those - 514,770 young people - are aged between 18 and 24.

The number of young new claimants who have signed on between March and June is 276,000 - more than doubling over three months.

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