By Anika Bourley Parliamentary Correspondent

Last updated at 14:49, Tuesday, 03 April 2012

Youth unemployment in north and west Cumbria has soared by almost 300 in just 12 months, new figures show.

The number of 18-24 year olds out of work and on benefits across Carlisle, Copeland, Allerdale and Eden has topped 2,225 based on the latest available figures for February – up 295 from February last year.

The TUC, who collated the data by parliamentary constituency, said the scale of rising youth unemployment shows that fears of a lost generation in northern urban areas are real - and that major investment is needed to tackle it.

Nationally an average of 98 extra young people have joined the dole queues in every parliamentary constituency since last year.

Across Cumbria, the problem is greatest in Carlisle which saw 105 extra young people join dole queues in the 12 month period, followed by 100 young people in Workington.

By contrast, Copeland saw an increase of 50 and Penrith rose by 40.

It means there are currently 680 young people chasing work in Carlisle, 660 in Workington, 645 in Copeland and 270 in Penrith and the Border.

First published at 11:30, Tuesday, 03 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk