Dr Ashok Kumar has called for a debate on the exodus of young people from the county after new statistics have revealed that there is ten per cent fewer young people in Teesside than the national average.
The 2001 census reveals that Middlesbrough is the worst affected, with 15 per cent fewer people aged between 20 and 34. The number of young males in Middlesbrough is even lower, at 20 per cent below the national average.
"There needs to be a Teesside-wide debate on these figures," said Dr Kumar. "Central to this debate should be the ability of the University of Teesside and colleges to attract local school and sixth form college leavers. We also need to look at the ability of local employers to offer rewarding careers.
"Our future lies with our younger people. We cannot afford to lose them to other UK regions which are our economic competitors."
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