Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond, has called for urgent attention to be given to tackling youth unemployment. This follows statistics which show youth unemployment rocketing in both West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute, amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that youth unemployment in West Dunbartonshire increased by 64.3% between February and May and by an astonishing 127.5% in Argyll and Bute.

Jackie Baillie has previously called for long term support to be given to those who find themselves unemployed and unable to seek work due to the Covid-19 crisis. She has urged the Scottish Government to introduce a Job Guarantee Scheme and to provide support beyond the current Job Retention Scheme period.

Jackie Baillie MSP said:

“These youth unemployment stats show the sad reality of the effect that Covid-19 has had on our young workforce.

“Young people across West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute are in desperate need of long term support to help get them back into employment. Lots of young people in our community work in the hospitality and tourism sectors – both of which are really struggling to survive.

“It is vital that the Scottish Government provide long term and sector-specific support so that young people who are just starting out in their careers do not end up out of work for the foreseeable future.”