One in five young adults is jobless

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Tories say this contradicts a claim made by Peter Hain, the Work and Pensions Secretary, that youth unemployment had been "all but eradicated".

The statistics show a 20 per cent rise in the number of 16-to 24-year-olds doing nothing since Labour gained power.

Tory work and pensions spokesman

Chris Grayling, who issued the figures, said it was a "tragedy" that 1.25million in the age group were "Neets" - not in education, employment or training. That is around 200,000 more than in 1997.

Of these, 706,000 were officially classed as unemployed, 41,000 more than when Tony Blair swept into Downing Street.

Mr Grayling accused ministers of telling lies. He added: "It is nothing short of a human tragedy that after ten years... the youth unemployment figure has actually risen."

His figures showed that the official unemployment rate for 16-to 24-yearolds was 14.5 per cent, compared to 14.1 per cent in 1997.

Mr Hain insisted yesterday that the number of long-term unemployed in the age group had fallen in the past decade.