Local young people in jobs boost

Helping young people into work: Apprenticeship figures were boosted by a pop up shop in Middleton in January

Youth unemployment is falling across Rochdale borough according to recently released government figures.

In May this year, there were 890 fewer 18-24-year-olds claiming jobseekers allowance than this time last year, a drop from 2070 to 1,180.

More than half of the young people who have recently found jobs were also classed as long-term unemployed, having been out of work for six months or more.

Younger people have also proved a success, with the number of 16-18 year-olds who joined an apprenticeship scheme growing by 15 per cent, the highest increase in Greater Manchester.

Between 1 August 2013 and 30 April 2014, 430 teenagers started an apprenticeship, compared to 374 during the same period the year before.