'I've applied for more than 100 jobs in five months'

"I stopped keeping track of how many jobs I've applied for - it's way over 100."

Coburn, 19, from Leeds, has been one of the thousands of young people in Yorkshire looking for work, with the latest regional figures at a 10-year high.

It has been an exhausting process for the former Leeds City College student, who gained a P-Tech in computer science last summer and has never previously had a job.

"Employers are all asking for five years of experience, but where am I supposed to get the experience from?" he asks.

From Wednesday, the minimum wage for over-21s will rise by 50p to £12.71, with workers aged 18-20 seeing an 85p rise to £10.85.

However, some feel it could be a double-edged sword due to the impact on employers and the hours they can offer.

Not having the necessary experience has proven a stumbling block for Coburn.

"If I've never had a job before, I can't get a job. Where am I supposed to get a job from? That's where the anger comes from," he adds.

According to Office for National Statistics data, 55,600 people aged 16 to 24 were classed as unemployed in Yorkshire and the Humber as of September.

This equates to an unemployment rate of 15.5%, comparing with latest general unemployment rate for the region of 4.2%.

Coburn says he secured one interview during his five months of applications and was turned down for the role as he cannot drive.

"There are no words to describe how difficult it currently is," he says.

"It's really saddening - not just for myself, but for everyone else around me that I know."

At Sheffield College, students are also concerned about the challenges of finding work.

Emmie, 16, is studying English literature, history and film at A-level and says she has applied for 65 part-time jobs and only gained three replies.

"It's a very competitive market, it's terrifying," she says.

"I've been lucky enough to get a part-time job, but it's taken so much time and effort which I don't have as a full-time student."

She adds: "I think employers stereotype young people - they think we're going to mess around and bend the rules, but actually most of us are very future-focused."

The college student hopes to become a primary school teacher and admits her long-term plans have gone "a bit haywire".

"I do want to go to university but the pressures and money are a lot to deal with," she says.

Leeds-based youth unemployment charity Spear, which helps young people with CV writing, interview technique and mindset coaching, says it is becoming an "increasingly difficult" market for young people.

Katie Boyes, Spear centre manager, says: "There's an increase in the competition out there, the economy is shrinking.

"A lot of the entry-level roles that young people would be going for in the hospitality and retail sector are becoming less available.

"That's a perfect storm, and that's combined with rising levels of mental health challenges that are leaving a lot of young people feeling quite isolated."

Faye Ayub, 24, who is from Bradford and works in York, gained a job with the Nandos restaurant chain after seeking help from Spear.

"Employers were setting unrealistic expectations, asking for five to 10 years of experience," she says.

"Young people aren't going to have the experience an older person will have."

Faye says she was looking for a role for 18 months before securing a job.

"I feel a lot more confident about my future now," she says.

"I said to myself, I can do this, I can go back to education, I can go and get a job that I want."

She adds: "There's a stigma around young people not enjoying or wanting to work, which is completely wrong."

Coburn, who has also managed to find work with the chain after his five-month job search, says: "As much as minimum wage rising is good, I think bringing it up much closer to what it is for someone significantly older isn't beneficial.

"Companies might think, what's the point in employing someone younger without as much experience."

A government spokesperson said: "For too long youth unemployment has been unacceptably high, which is why we are ensuring every young person has the opportunity to earn or learn.

"Our youth employment support package, totalling £2.5bn, will support almost one million young people and help deliver up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.

"We have also introduced a number of incentives for employers, including the offer of £2,000 for each new employee aged 16-24 taken on by a small business, while employers hiring those under 21 earning below a certain level do not need to pay National Insurance contributions."