Work and Pensions written question – answered at on 23 November 2011.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the risk of people aged 16 to 24 claiming jobseeker's allowance experiencing long-term cycles of deprivation.
There is a risk that an extended period of unemployment when young can impact on later earnings potential, increase the probability of a future spell out of work, or have a wider detrimental effect on health and well-being.
As a result the Government's policies focus on keeping young people active in their job search and helping them to engage in real work with employers. This is supported by access to work experience opportunities and referrals to apprenticeships and sector-based work academies.
This ensures that most young people flow off jobseeker's allowance quickly. Of the around 125,000 16 to 24-year-olds currently joining JSA each month, 60% leave within the first three months and 80% within six months. Those who need more intensive support or who become long-term unemployed are referred to the Work programme at three or nine months.
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