The number of young people out of work in Telford has risen by more than three per cent since the start of the recession, figures reveal today.

A study by research institute Centre for Cities shows that in May more than seven per cent of people aged 16 to 24 were claiming jobseeker’s allowance compared with three per cent in February 2008.

This is higher than the national average which rose by two per cent from just over three per cent to almost six per cent.

The data places Telford in 14th position in a table of the areas worst hit by rising levels of youth unemployment.

Among the hardest hit are Swindon, Hull, Doncaster, Barnsley and Sunderland – the former industrial areas in north east of England – where the youth claimant count has risen by up to five per cent.

Centre for Cities has urged the Government to do more to tackle the issue, warning the number of jobless youth could almost treble by 2011.

The group said the Government’s £1 billion fund aimed at creating 150,000 jobs between 2009/11 for long-term unemployed young people was a “sticking plaster” because of the scale of the problem. It estimates 1,18 million young people will be unemployed by 2011 and said the fund would help less than half the expected 350,000 expected to find themselves out of work for more than a year by the end of 2011.

When the class of 2009 leaves this summer, about 300,000 graduates and 400,000 school leavers will join those looking for work.