Jobless numbers gives cause for concern

THE number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) in the North West has risen by a faster rate in the North West than anywhere else in the UK.

THE number of unemployed people across the region increased by 9.3% to 317,000 in the three months to February 2012. The number of claimants in Greater Manchester has risen by 15% to just over 88,000 people – an increase  of 11,300 on last year.

Of these, 840 were aged between 16-24 and youth unemployment has now reached 27,840 – or just under a third of the total. Some 36,000 claimants have been classed as long term unemployed.

Baron Frankal, director of economic strategy at New Economy, said: “While Greater Manchester is keeping afloat in stormy waters, the figures continue to highlight just how difficult it remains for people to find opportunities to re-enter the labour market.

“JSA claimants have risen by more than 11,000 over the last year and this makes it absolutely critical that new developments create employment, and initiatives to support the unemployed back into work, such as the Work Programme are successful.

“The fact that organisations such as the OECD are now saying that the UK may be in the early stages of recovery is certainly a welcome opinion, which should help increase confidence that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“Over the medium term, finance and new development will be critical to creating sustainable new employment.”