A campaign to get young people into work has found jobs for 8,281 youngsters between 15 and 25 years of age, well short of the target of 10,000.

The campaign was run by youth unemployment ambassador Mirjam Sterk, a former Christian Democrat MP, and staffing agency group Randstad.

Since April 2013, Sterk has been visiting businesses and councils to emphasise youth unemployment and to encourage them to find jobs for young people. Randstad has been running an information bus around the country.

‘We knew our target of 10,000 was ambitious,’ Sterk told news agency ANP. ‘But 8,281 is a large amount, particularly when you realise over half of the youngsters are in a job of 31 hours a week or more.’

Most of the jobs are in administration, catering or call centres, says ANP.

Currently, 15.8% of under-25s are unemployed, a total of 137,000 people.

The campaign has been extended until October 11.