General · 17 February 2026
Youth unemployment hits highest level in over ten years
Official data reveals the national jobless rate increased to 5.2 per cent during the final three months of 2025. Those aged 16 to 24 face the most difficult market in a decade, as their unemployment rate reached 16.1 per cent. The ONS states that redundancies are trending upward, while businesses point to higher National Insurance contributions as a barrier to hiring.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs