SCHOOL-leavers in London’s East End have been getting to grips with the worst unemployment in Britain by attending a seminar to brush up on their job prospect’ skills. The seminar was held by Canary Wharf business leaders at on the day sixthformers got their A-level results

By Mike Brooke

SCHOOL-leavers in London’s East End have been getting to grips with the worst unemployment in Britain by attending a seminar to brush up on their job prospect’ skills.

The seminar was held by Canary Wharf business leaders on the day sixthformers got their A-level results.

Unemployment among young adults is the highest in Britain, figures from Tower Hamlets council’s Scrutiny review reveal.

Yet there are more jobs in Tower Hamlets than people, almost two for every economically active’ resident, figures show.

UK WORST

“We have the worst unemployment in the UK at 11 per cent,” said Tory Opposition deputy leader Tim Archer.

“But it’s much, much worse if you’re young.

“Unemployment among 16-to-24 year olds has hit 24 per cent, double the national average. That’s one-in-four without work.”

Neighbouring Newham doesn’t fare much better, at just over 20 per cent, or one-in-five jobless, compared to the London average of less than 15 per cent.

BAD EDUCATION’

“The problem is our appalling record on education,” added Cllr Archer.

“The percentage of people with GCSE A-to-C is only 11 per cent, compared to double that nationally.”

The Bobnetwork, a Tower Hamlets community development project, teamed up with the Canary Wharf financial technology company SunGard to run yesterday’s workshop for youngsters to sharpen their CV writing skills, learning to network’ and how to prepare for an interview.

The programme was backed by the East London Business Alliance and the City Corporation.