Jobseekers Allowance count rose 40% on last January
Local Member of Parliament Oliver Heald has revealed that 108 more people have begun claiming unemployment benefits in North East Hertfordshire since December 2009.
Statistics compiled by the Office of National Statistics also show that the number of local Jobseekers Allowance claimants has risen by 40% to 1,602 in January 2010 from 1,138 in January 2009. This rise means that total local unemployment has doubled since the recession started early in 2008. In January 2008 local unemployment stood at 589.
The statistics also show that Youth Unemployment in North East Herts has trebled over the past two years from 140 in January 2008 to 410 in January 2010.
When the Labour Government came to power in 1997 unemployment locally stood at 906 and youth unemployment at 200.
Oliver commented, “The rate of increase is worrying with 100 more people having signed on since Christmas alone. The Government’s scheme to kick start the economy by getting loans out to businesses is clearly not working. We need a proper loan guarantee scheme of the type suggested by the Conservative Party to get people back into work now. We have also suggested a better Back to Work scheme with better training and quality apprenticeships. To give young people the skills they need to get a sustainable job for the future, over two years we will fund 200,000 apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, 100,000 work pairings and 100,000 further education college places.”
“It is shocking that youth unemployment has trebled locally. We must help the young to have the training and help they need and businesses need to be able to do well and provide jobs.”
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Notes to Editors
Office of National Statistics figures for North East Hertfordshire:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/pca/2030043205/report.aspx