Youth unemployment in Britain rose to a record 1.2 million in the third quarter, the highest figure in 19 years, data released on Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics showed.
The number jobless people aged between 16 and 24 was up by 67,000 over that period, bringing the unemployment rate among that age group to 21.9 percent, also a record, the office said, DPA reported.
The total number of jobless youths included 286,000 people in full-time education who were looking for part-time work.
Total unemployment in the country rose by 129,000 to 2.62 million in the three months to September, the highest figure since 1994. The jobless rate was 8.3 percent, the highest since 1996.
The data also showed that long-term unemployment had also increased, with the number of people without work for more than a year rising by 31,000 to 868,000.
The figures are set to increase pressure by campaign groups on the government to take action.