YOUTH unemployment figures dropped by more than 30 per cent in the last year, but Northwich’s Labour Party Parliamentary candidate insists too many young people are still jobless.

Recent figures show 6.5 per cent of 18 to 14 year olds are claiming job seekers allowance in Weaver Vale, a drop of 32 per cent since January last year.

However, Labour Party Parliamentary candidate for Weaver Vale Julia Tickridge each youngster who remains jobless is a ‘waste of talent’.

“Although any fall in youth unemployment is welcome, this figure remains far too high. Every young person looking for a job but failing is a tragedy and waste of talent,” she said.

“More than 900,000 young people across the country are still out of work under David Cameron’s Tory-led Government, over 250,000 have been unemployed for over a year.

“Labour would take action now and introduce a compulsory jobs guarantee for every young person unemployed for more than one year.”

But Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans was delighted with the fall in unemployment, which is at its lowest since he took up the role in May 2010.

“Employment is higher across Weaver Vale than the national average, and across the North West region there are 14,000 more people in work since 2010,” he said.

“There has been a 6,000 increase in the number of people in work across the North West in the last quarter alone.

“These improvements in employment figures suggest the UK economy is improving and making an impact on the lives of people in Weaver Vale.

“I am proud that steps in my constituency, such as running two Jobs Fairs with planning underway for a third, and apprenticeship schemes can demonstrate the opportunities that are out there."