Just over 10,000 apprenticeships are being created to tackle youth unemployment, social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher said on Monday.

He made the announcement during a summit meeting for youngsters at Rotterdam port, news agency ANP reports.

The extra 10,094 extra apprenticeships are the result of negotiations between the cabinet, employers, employees and the government-appointed  ‘ambassador’ for youth unemployment.

The government has reserved €80m to reduce youth unemployment, but according to Asscher money is not the main problem. ‘It is about all parties making a contribution,’ he said.

Youth unemployment jumped from 9.8% in 2011 to 15.9% in 2013. This compares with joblessness in the total population of 8.6%.