ONE in five jobless people in Yorkshire are aged 16 to 24, a survey has revealed.

Research based on the latest Annual Population Survey shows that 80,700 people aged 16 to 24 were out of work during the year to September, 2010.

That represents 19.1% of the region’s total jobless tally of 223,100.

And it is the same percentage as the UK total of 884.100 jobless 16 to 24-year-olds out of a total of 2.36m unemployed.

The worst-hit regions were London with 23.4% youth unemployment followed by Wales and the North East, both on 22.3%.

Youth unemployment was also higher than one in five of the jobless total in the North West and the West Midlands.

The figures compiled by the Office for National Statistics showed there were 39 areas in the UK with one in four or more economically active young workers out of work.

Top comes the London borough of Lewisham, where there are 4,800 out of work young workers among a total jobless figure of 15,700 – giving a rate of 35.4%

Paul Kenny, general secretary of general union the GMB, said: “The number one political problem facing the UK today is unemployment and particularly youth unemployment.

“Every family knows of young people with a good education out of work or underemployed. In parts of the country one in three young workers is out of work.”

Mr Kenny claimed the Government was adding to the problem through its programme of cuts.

He said 220,000 jobs were going in the public sector as employers left vacancies unfilled or sought volunteers for early retirement or for redundancy.

Said Mr Kenny: “This is poor economics as the reductions in the growth forecasts show. It is not possible to deflate your way to growth and a balanced budget.”

Mr Kenny said the TUC march in London would demonstrate the widespread public anger at the cuts – anger that would be demonstrated in the May council elections.