Temporary posts target youth unemployment

Targets have been set to create 1,600 temporary jobs across the North East for young unemployed people under a new scheme.

The posts, if created, are aimed at those aged between 18-24 years to build skills and experience in the workplace.

Each local authority area has a target number of posts ranging from 82 in South Tyneside to 462 in County Durham.

All jobs must last at least six months, for a minimum of 25 hours a week, and pay at least the national minimum wage.

The scheme has been created through the government's Future Jobs Fund (FJF).

It is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and was announced in the government's 2009 budget.

The fund is primarily aimed at 18-24 year olds who have been out of work for a year.

The Tyne and Wear City Region Employment and Skills Partnership is the latest organisation aiming to combine local employers, councils and government agencies, to tackle unemployment in the North East.

A spokesperson from the partnership, said more than 600 additional jobs, ranging from park warden to childcare assistant had been created since the launch of the initiative in 2009.

The number of jobs to be provided in each of the local authority areas in the first six months are: County Durham, 462; Gateshead, 175; Newcastle City, 240; North Tyneside, 207; Northumberland, 131; South Tyneside, 82; Sunderland, 313.