date: 15 August 2012
embargo: For immediate release
Responding to the latest unemployment figures published today (Wednesday) by the Office for National Statistics, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
'Today's fall in unemployment is welcome, but there are worrying trends brewing and with the economy getting smaller it may only be a matter of time before the dole queues start rising again.
'Young people in particular are struggling to get their careers off the ground. The number of people under 25 who are neither working or in full-time education has risen again to nearly 1.5 million.
'The government's response to this youth jobs crisis has been poor. Successful initiatives have been scrapped and then reinstated with less funding. Young people are still awaiting a replacement for Educational Maintenance Allowance to support them through their education too.
'Ministers must step up job support before unemployment starts rising again otherwise help will come too late for too many people.'
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Top 10 employment blackspots, July 2012
Local authority |
Region |
Dole claimants |
Jobcentre vacancies |
Claimants per vacancy ratio |
North Ayrshire |
Scotland |
5,920 |
276 |
21.4 |
Haringey |
London |
9,761 |
464 |
21.0 |
Clackmannanshire |
Scotland |
1,824 |
87 |
21.0 |
Blaenau Gwent |
Wales |
3,415 |
170 |
20.1 |
West Dunbartonshire |
Scotland |
3,898 |
205 |
19.0 |
East Ayrshire |
Scotland |
5,038 |
270 |
18.7 |
East Renfrewshire |
Scotland |
1,394 |
83 |
16.8 |
Hackney |
London |
9,937 |
605 |
16.4 |
Waltham Forest |
London |
9,394 |
582 |
16.1 |
Kingston upon Hull |
Yorkshire and Humber |
15,016 |
981 |
15.3 |
Middlesbrough |
North East |
7,348 |
504 |
14.6 |
Source: nomisweb
- The claimant to vacancy ratio for local authorities across Great Britain is available from the press office.
- The latest labour market statistics are available at http://bit.ly/OXLKAv
- The number of 16-24 year olds who are neither in employment or full-time education has increased by 24,000 on the quarter to reach 1,436,000. A TUC analysis of youth career prospects since 1992 is available at www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-21323-f0.cfm
- Further analysis of the labour market figures is available at www.touchstoneblog.org.uk
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews
- Congress 2012 will be held at the Brighton Centre from Sunday 9 September to Wednesday 12 September. Free media passes can be obtained by visiting www.tuc.org.uk/mediacredentials and completing an online form. Applications must be in by noon on Wednesday 29 August. Any received later than that will be processed in Brighton and will cost £50. Please note that the Brighton Centre requires 60 days' notice for telephone line facilities. Details available on the link above.
Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
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