A GENERATION of young people could become trapped into a “lifetime of worklessness”, according to a Dorset training provider.

Although unemployment fell nationally by 7.1 per cent in recent figures, youth unemployment is at its highest since 1993.

FNTC Training, which works with young people in Dorset from its site at Branksome Business Park, is calling for more efforts to deal with the nearly a million young people classified as ‘NEETS’ – young people not in education, employment or training.

Tara Roudiani, MD at the company, urged young people and their parents to do more to help themselves.

She said: “If we are not careful, we will raise a generation of young people trapped in a lifetime of worklessness.

She added: “This time last year we were struggling to find employers willing to take on apprentices. Now we have lots of jobs available but we cannot find enough young people to fill them. It’s quite ridiculous given that the youth unemployment figures are so high.”

The company believes the abolition of the Connexions youth advisory service has meant that many teens are not getting access to impartial advice and guidance.