YOUNG people across south Essex are finding it increasingly hard to find the jobs they want because of the recession.

Figures out yesterday show there are now almost 16,700 people out of work in the south of the county.

Nationally, unemployment in 18 to 24-year-olds,rose again, by an extra 53,000 in the month between July and August, taking the total figure to 928,000, according to the Office for National Statistics.

There are now 33,800 in that age bracket claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance in the East of England.

While many young people are having trouble finding work at all, others leaving university and colleges are taking jobs in supermarkets to make ends meet.

Sarah Fulcher, 22, from Paglesham, finished a three-year degree course in fine art at South East Essex College this summer, but has not been able to find the job in teaching she wants.

Instead, she has had to carry on working on a supermarket checkout.

She said: “I had been working part-time at Tesco for the past year, to help pay my way though the degree course, but I really wanted to go into teaching art at secondary school.

“There were 13 people in my class and the majority of them have had to take work in shops and other places which is not what they wanted to do when they started their course.

“Six of the people in my class applied for teaching jobs, but only two of them got the jobs. There were very few jobs available for newly qualified graduates at the time, so I signed full time at Tesco. The job pays well and I am hoping to save up for another qualification to help me become a teacher. It is really difficult for people to find any sort of work at the moment after leaving college.”

Student Richard Ayre, 20, from Southend, is studying a three-year degree in economics at the University of East Anglia.

He has been looking for part-time work over the summer, but has not been successful.

He said: “I spent about three weeks looking for work at the beginning of summer, but there was just nothing out there at all.

“I sent off CVs to lots of companies, but heard nothing back.

“I really hope, when I graduate, the recession will be over and it will be a time when people are looking to recruit again.”

The youth charity, the Prince’s Trust, has said the amount of young people on the dole is costing the country billions.

Graham Ball, the trust’s East of England regional director, said: “Youth unemployment in the region costs the state £246,000 per day in Jobseekers’ Allowance.

“This is just the start of a downward spiral, which can lead to crime, homelessness or worse. Only by stopping young people falling out of the system can we rescue this potential and save the economy billions each year.”