Assembly Member Murad Qureshi urges Mayor Johnson to tackle long-term youth unemployment

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Mayor Boris Johnson today came under calls to deliver on the Olympic legacy and tackle long term unemployment and youth unemployment in the capital. The latest figures released on Wednesday show that long-term youth unemployment (aged 18-24) in the capital has risen from 1,810 to 7,705 between July 2011 and July 2012. They also reveal that long-term unemployment (aged 25 and over) has risen from 35,835 to 57,845 over the same period.

In response to the latest figures Londonwide Labour Assembly Member Murad Qureshi has called for the government and Mayor Boris Johnson to use all their powers to get Londoners back to work. 

·         Long term youth unemployment (age 18-24) in Westminster has risen 210% between July 2011 and July 2012 from 50 to 155. 

·         Long term unemployment (aged 25+) has risen by 34%, from 1,025 to 1,380 over the same period. 

Labour London Assembly Member Murad said: "The slight drop in unemployment is welcome, however long-term unemployment and youth unemployment remain stubbornly high. The mayor needs to use all of his powers to tackle this growing crisis and deliver an economic Olympic legacy to help prevent another lost generation being created. In recessions of the 80s and 90s we saw youth unemployment sky-rocket and a lost-generation created. We must do all we can to stop that happening again. The best way to inspire a new generation is to provide them with opportunities.”

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Notes: 

1.      Murad Qureshi is a Londonwide Labour Assembly Member and a former Westminster councillor.

2.      Unemployment figures are JobSeekers' Allowance claimant count, taken directly from the ONS at www.nomisweb.co.uk.