Business leaders in Birmingham and Solihull are urging the government to do more to ensure that our younger generation is not lost and added to the ever increasing unemployment register.

The warning from Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI) came as the West Midlands sees unemployment figures for the months from March to May increase by 39,000, currently standing at 285,000.  

In Birmingham, unemployment stands at 49,311 or 12.3% of the working age population, which remains significantly above the national and core cities average of 9.5%.

Kiran Virk (Miss), Policy Adviser at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce says: "Worryingly, national youth unemployment has risen again this quarter by 46,000 to 722,000.  

"Although expected, these figures emphasise the extremely difficult economic conditions and the government must do more to ensure that we don't lose the enthusiasm of our newly graduated students."

Birmingham Chamber is working with private sector employers in the city who have pledged to create nearly 450 job-placements, demonstrating the appetite of the business sector to play a part in providing job opportunities.  

The City Region, a public private sector partnership has successfully bid and won £40 million from the recently announced Government Future Jobs Fund and through its partnership will raise another £10 million which will create up to 6,000 jobs in the West Midlands.

Miss Virk added: "This scheme as well as the West Midlands Graduate Internship Programme will provide hope and vital work experience for young people who need to be recognised as an important asset to the business community."   

Simon Topman, chairman of the West Midlands Chambers of Commerce, said: "Everything possible is being done in the West Midlands to assist graduates. The West Midlands Graduate Internship programme, supported by the region's universities, Advantage West Midlands, Jobcentre Plus and business groups like the Chambers of Commerce, will help students start their careers, and businesses will benefit from graduate-level skills despite the recession.               

"Our region is the first in the country to set up and offer subsidised jobs and training places to graduates with local companies - offering a real opportunity to the 52,000 graduates who are expected to leave the region's universities in the next few weeks.      

"BCI will be working with partners and our members to ensure that as many businesses as possible are involved in this programme. Graduates are a real asset to the business community and it is vital that we - as a region - do everything we can to ensure that we do not suffer a brain drain in the coming months."