UK unemployment continues to increase - for some

The latest employment date makes grim reading, especially for the young.

In the latest set of unemployment data the percentage of 16-17 year olds in employment in the three months to 2009 June was 28.6%, down 5.4% from a year earlier, while the rate for 18-24 year olds fell 4.3% to 59.8%.

The only age group that showed an increase in employment was the 65+. Also, those in the 50 – retirement age band showed less of a decline than the younger age groups. The rate of employment by people who were not born here showed a slight increase as it has done for the last six quarters.

These differences in employment rates between the young and old and indigenous and non-indenous people will continue to fester as a source of conflict. As will the higher increase in pay between the public and private sector. Not good news, except for older people. Dick Stroud