Youth unemployment rises for second consecutive quarter

Youth unemployment has risen for the second quarter in a row, despite being lower than this time last year.

CSO figures released today show that unemployment among under 25s is up 2% since December, but down 4.5% from this time last year.

The rate of youth unemployment now stands at 22.4%.

Deputy Director of the National Youth Council of Ireland, James Doorley said that promises of a youth guarantee that would ensure work or internships for young people need to be followed through on.

"We think the Government needs to step-up its action in that area to deliver on the youth guarantee, and obviously I suppose continue to support initiates that create jobs, and not just any job, but decent jobs with good conditions for young people," said Mr Doorley.

"Because as I said, welcome overall in relation to unemployment figures but we can't take our eye off the ball, we still have two and a half times the level of youth unemployment that we had before the crisis. So that's something we really have a lot of work to do on yet."