Val Shawcross AM calls for Mayor to tackle rising long-term youth unemployment

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Local London Assembly Member Valerie Shawcross has described recent figures showing long term youth unemployment rising by a huge 243% in Lambeth and 143% in Southwark compared with a year ago as deeply concerning. Across London long-term youth unemployment rose by 4.9%.

Despite a marginal decrease in the rate of unemployment across London, unemployment overall across London is still higher than the same time last year and significantly higher than before May 2010.  In addition people who are in work are continuing to see their income in real wage terms reduced, as increases in average earnings still trail behind inflation. 

Val Shawcross AM said: “The slight reduction in unemployment is welcome, however more needs to be done to tackle youth unemployment and job creation. The Mayor and government need to bring forward a plan for jobs and growth to get people back to work. They could start with a tax on bankers’ bonuses to fund work placements for young unemployed people.” 

“Mayor Boris Johnson promised that he would tackle the continuing crisis over London’s unemployment. So far all we have seen is Mayor Johnson going on holiday to New York, meanwhile ordinary Londoners are struggling.”