The head of St Vincent de Paul is urging the federal government to come up with a jobs plan to help slash the youth unemployment rate.

Official figures released on Thursday showed that while youth unemployment dipped by 0.1 per cent to 13.3 per cent in June, the jobless rate remains high.

An extra 5700 young people found work during the month, while the number of those without a job fell by 700 to 280,500.

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St Vincent de Paul chief executive John Falzon said the government needed to act quickly to implement a jobs plan for young people.

“Australia’s rate of youth unemployment remains unconscionably high,” he said.

“The labour market is unequipped to get youth into jobs and a national approach is needed.”

CommSec economist Savanth Sebastian said above-trend economic growth was needed to significantly reduce unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds.

“We’ve got an environment where young people are not able to find a permanent place in the workforce,” he said.

The youth unemployment rate was as high as 14.4 per cent in November 2014.

-AAP