Summit to tackle rising youth unemployment

CITY leaders were today set to hold a summit on rising youth unemployment.

A special single-topic meeting of the city council's Economic Action Resilience Network was scheduled to discuss the issue.

Edinburgh is now one of the four areas in Scotland that has the worst youth unemployment.

The latest figures show that 3125 18-24-year-olds are claiming Jobseekers Allowance in the city – higher than at any time since August 1997.

The meeting, at the City Chambers, will include presentations by staff from Skills Development Scotland, Jobcentre Plus, Capital City Partnership and the city council's employability and skills team.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, who was to chair the meeting, said: "The council, together with our fellow Earn partners, must do our best to meet head-on the challenges facing young people in Edinburgh.