Exponential rise in youth unemployment shows why recovery must be put first, says Aberdeenshire candidate

The number of people aged between 18 and 24 now claiming unemployment related benefits in Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City has more than doubled over the past year from 1,385 to 2,985, a rise of 115 percent.

Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for the north east, Rosemary Bruce, has said the exponential rise is even more reason to "put recovery first".

According to the latest data set published by the Office of National Statistics, 9,720 people in Aberdeen City and 6,605 in Aberdeenshire are now claiming unemployment benefits.

This amounts to an increase of 133 percent and 124 percent respectively, between March 2020 and March 2021.

1,680 people aged between 18 and 24 in Aberdeen City and a further 1,305 in Aberdeenshire are now claiming unemployment benefits - an increase of 121 percent and 109 percent respectively since March 2020.

Commenting on the statistics Rosemary Bruce, the candidate for Aberdeenshire West, said: "So many people have lost their jobs during the past year and it's clear that young people in the north east have had to suffer the most.

"The Scottish Liberal Democrats are committed to investing in young people and the future of the Scottish economy, but this can only be done if we put recovery first."

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