Youth unemployment up

In the second quarter of this year, 108 thousand young people in the age category 15-25 were unemployed, an increase by 26 thousand from one year previously. The unemployment rate is particularly high among non-school going young people.

Unemployment grows more rapidly among non-school going young people

Six in every ten young unemployed attend some form of education. In the second quarter of this year, 64 thousand pupils in regular education were seeking jobs for twelve hours a week or more and were prepared to start shortly. This is an increase by nearly a quarter from one year previously. Unemployment rose more rapidly among young people who did not attend any form of education at all. Their number grew by nearly half from 31 to 45 thousand.

Youth unemployment by education attendance

Youth unemployment particularly high in the early 1980s

The youth unemployment rate was nearly 11 percent last year. In the course of 2012, the rate climbed to nearly 13 percent in August, still considerably lower than in the early 1980s. With nearly 18 percent, unemployment reached a very low level in 1983. During the past four decades, the youth unemployment rate has always been at least twice as high as the rate among 25 to 65-year-olds.

Youth unemployment, 1971-2011

Harry Bierings