YOUTH unemployment across the UK has reached a record high of more than 1m a figure described by one North West business leader as truly shocking.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there are more 16 to 24-year-olds now out of work than at any time since 1992.

The number of jobless young people jumped by 67,000 in the three months to September to 1.2m.

Neil Dutton, development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, said: Todays youth unemployment figures are truly shocking and with more than 1m young people unable to find a job, the Government must wake up and take action to turn this around.

This region was blighted by high unemployment for many years and must not return to those times.

The FSB has long argued for a National Insurance Contributions cut for micro businesses as a way of creating jobs.

As a first step towards that goal, a measure the Government could adopt would be to cut National Insurance Contributions for those aged between 16 and 24 taken on in a new job in a micro business.

This measure would target tax cuts where they are most needed, and halt rising youth unemployment.

The employers organisation, the CBI, welcomed a Government announcement of the introduction of £1,500 incentive payment to small companies which take on young people but added it needed to be extended to larger firms too.

VIDEO: Deputy business editor Tony McDonough gives his take on the latest UK unemployment figures