YOUNG people are the losers in the economic recovery, the UK Government's social mobility czar has said, describing the situation as depressing.

Alan Milburn said young people have been the victims of the recession and has demanded urgent action to prevent this generation being worse off than the previous one.

The former Labour MP, speaking ahead of the ­publication of his report on social mobility, said the issues preventing young people making progress need to be tackled now to prevent problems for society in the future.

He said: "It is depressing. The current generation of young people are educated better and for longer than any previous one. But young people are losing out on jobs, earnings and housing.

"Urgent action is needed to prevent this generation of young people faring worse than their parents' generation."