UNEMPLOYMENT rates of people aged 16-24 years old across Oldham are almost double the national average, latest data reveals.

Figures released by the House of Commons Library show that in Oldham West and Royton 1,580 people aged 16-24 were claiming unemployment support in May 2021, 16.5 per cent of the population, compared to the UK rate of 8.2 per cent.

In Oldham East and Saddleworth, 1,295 people in the age group were claiming unemployment support that same month, 15 per cent of the local population, while in Ashton and Failsworth there were 1,020 claimants in the age range.

In a stark warning to the Government, Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said: "If our economy, both here in Oldham, Saddleworth and nationally, is to emerge stronger from this pandemic we cannot allow a generation to be scarred by unemployment.”

Angela Rayner, the MP for Ashton and Failsworth, where the total number of people claiming unemployment related benefits has gone up by 75 per cent since the first lockdown in March 2020, blamed government “mishandling”.

She said: “The government’s repeated mishandling of the pandemic has resulted in more lockdowns and has led to the worst recession of any major economy. It’s totally unacceptable. Why should my constituents pay the price for Boris Johnson’s catalogue of failures?”

The MP for Oldham West and Royton Jim McMahon meanwhile lambasted the Government’s £2 billion Kick Start Scheme for “not working”.

The scheme which provides placements to 16- to 24-year-olds and offers 100 per cent of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week for six months is set to end in December next year.

Mr McMahon said: “We need an active government that is willing to support young people and the long-term unemployed, rather than just tinker around the edges with existing Kickstart and Restart programmes which aren’t working.”

Adam Sharp, work coach team leader at Oldham JobCentre, has meanwhile called on Oldham’s young people to “grab opportunities while they can” under the Kickstart Scheme.

The work coach said a “bonus” of the scheme was that specialist jobs have opened up to people with “no skills or previous qualifications”.

He added: “What I would say from being on the ground myself is that there have never been more opportunities. I have plenty of examples where the six-month scheme ends, and the position becomes permanent.”

Minister for employment, Mims Davies MP said:" There are real signs of recovery in the labour market with tens of thousands of Work Coaches working hard to support people across our growing network of Jobcentres to help build their skills, get interview ready, and find their next roles - with over three quarters of a million vacancies out there.

"Our Plan for Jobs is working - creating new opportunities and boosting job prospects right across the country - as jab by jab we lay the foundations to build back better."

The Government’s Restart programme, which will give Universal Credit claimants who have been out of work for between 12 to 18 months enhanced support to find jobs, is set to start in the coming months.