CHILDREN from poorer backgrounds are twice as likely to be unemployed as children from richer families, a new study has said.

Research by charity Impetus released today found “youth jobs gap” between rich and poor children.

One in four young people who were eligible for school meals were not in education, employment or training (Neet) after graduating from school, the study found.

This compares with just 13 per cent of children not receiving free school meals ending up as Neet.

And young people with similar qualifications to their more well-off peers are still 50 per cent more likely to be out of education or employment.

Education alone cannot explain the employment gap as the report showed that young people from working-class backgrounds still do worse even if they achieve good qualifications.

The report also highlighted dramatic regional differences in life opportunities, showing that a disadvantaged young person in the north-east of England was 50 per cent more likely to end up as a Neet than a disadvantaged young person in London.

Impetus chief executive Andy Ratcliffe said: “We are breaking a fundamental promise to young people in this country.

“We tell them: ‘Study hard, get your qualifications and good jobs will follow.’

“For many young people this is true, but for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds it isn’t. They are less likely to get those qualifications and even when they do they are less likely to benefit.”

Shadow employment minister Mike Amesbury said: “This report must act as a wake-up call to the government.

“Young people who have grown up in poverty can face significant disadvantages when they come to look for their first job.

“The Tory Party is failing young people who are too often trapped in low paid and insecure work.

“But the government is refusing to track whether or not its flagship youth employment programme, the Youth Obligation, is working.

“Only Labour will give all young people the opportunities they deserve by scrapping zero-hours contracts, delivering a real living wage of at least £10 per hour and giving them real rights at work from day one.”