FOI reference: FOI-2025-2630
You asked
I request the following information:
- Graphics which show the percentages of youth (ages 16-24) unemployment rates between the years 2014-2024
- The type of economic assistance claims people in this age range are claiming if unemployed and how many are unemployed in total by year and by gender.
We said
Thank you for your query regarding youth unemployment.
We publish unemployment rates, estimated from the Labour Force Survey, by age band, as part of its labour market release each month. On table A05SA: Employment, unemployment and economic inactivity by age group (seasonally adjusted), available on the ONS website, we have the unemployment rate for 16 to 17 year olds and 18 to 24 year olds. Meanwhile, on table A06SA: Educational status and labour market status for people aged from 16 to 24 (seasonally adjusted), also on the ONS website, we have the combined 16 to 24 year old unemployment rate.
Both tables contain time series from 1992 onwards. They also contain estimates of the number of young people unemployed, along with breakdowns by sex.
We do not have comprehensive statistics on the type of economic assistance claims made for these age groups, although we do have statistics on the number of people by age group who are receiving benefit principally for the reason of being unemployed, through Jobseekers' Allowance or Universal Credit with a work search conditionality. This Claimant Count, broken down by age, is published monthly in our BEN03: Jobseeker's Allowance by age and duration publication, available on the ONS website.