Firms too scared to take a chance on youngsters when taxes and minimum wages are higher, expert says.... 

• The latest official figures show a rising number of young people out of work in the three months to August. 
• The impact was being felt mainly by young people, both graduates and non-graduates, who were most affected by the lack of vacancies.
• Some experts have blamed a greater reliance by employers on artificial intelligence to carry out the work usually performed by new recruits.
• Small and medium-sized firms are feeling the pain and will probably continue to be reluctant employers of new and younger staff until they can see through the fog of government policy.