Figures released last week by the Office of National Statistics show that youth unemployment in the UK is at its highest level since 1992, having risen by 54,000 since July. As of October there were 1.03 million unemployed 16 to 24 year olds in the UK.

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On Sunday, The Telegraph reported that, of the young unemployed, those in rural areas are being worse hit than anywhere else. Youth unemployment in rural regions has risen by up to 40 per cent compared to around ten per cent in cities such as Liverpool and Manchester.

The increasing cost of rural living and cuts to public services are all aspects which count against young people seeking work and have resulted in an exodus from the countryside.

A spokesperson from government agency Lantra, which works to increase the number of apprenticeships and reduce skills gaps in agriculture and other rural industries, blamed youths themselves. The spokesperson said young people can be reluctant to take such work that is considered "untrendy."

As almost 50 per cent of the 500,000 people employed in agriculture in the UK are aged over 45, a pattern which is replicated throughout Europe, Lantra suggests a large number of vacancies will emerge over the coming years as current workers retire. However, without opportunities and support it is unclear how today’s youth will be able to fill them.

Many youth organisations and journalists have criticised the media’s portrayal of the young, claiming that young people have been increasingly demonised as lazy and incompetent; they say this portrayal is unfounded and has had an effect on potential employers’ perceptions of young people.

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