Youth unemployment is expected to move closer to the politically-sensitive one million barrier as new jobless figures are revealed.
The number of jobless 16 to 24-year-olds could even pass the significant marker in the quarter to March, just days after the Government unveiled a £60 million package aimed at boosting work prospects for the group.
The number of jobless 16 to 24-year-olds increased by 12,000 over the quarter to February to 963,000, while the total for 16 and 17-year-olds increased by 14,000 to 218,000, the highest since records began in 1992.
Elsewhere, total unemployment is forecast to have fallen by around 17,000 to 2.475 million in the period, a rate of 7.8%, while the number claiming Jobseeker's Allowance is expected to have declined by between 4,000 and 10,000.
Fred Turok, founder of youth employment charity TAG, said youth unemployment has "escalated dramatically" over the last year and it is widely expected that to break the one million barrier today.
"The issue has been visible for all to see, but we still find ourselves in a situation where far too many 18 to 24-year-olds are out of work and have little or no employability skills."
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Last week, David Cameron and Nick Clegg said it will provide funding for up to 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years, and fund 100,000 work placements over the next two years.
Measures in a new paper called Supporting Youth Employment are designed to ensure young people had the opportunity to get work, advance their career prospects and encourage social mobility and help fill some of the 500,000 vacancies in the job market.
The coalition Government has pinned its hopes on growth in the private sector balancing the loss of jobs in the public sector.
But a survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found the private sector recovery is being overwhelmed by public sector redundancies.
