Yorkshire Tory MPs must act to save jobs, says TUC

New ONS data released today (15 September) shows that there were 16,000 fewer workforce jobs recorded in Yorkshire & the Humber in June, compared with the start of the pandemic in March. By sector, food & hospitality, and agriculture both saw losses of around 6,000 jobs, with office administration losing 8,000 jobs, and the arts losing 5000 jobs.

One of the few growth areas was transport and logistics, putting on another 6,000 jobs compared to March.

ONS data for August, the period when the government began to wind down the furlough scheme, is not yet available. But the ONS flash estimate for the UK nationally shows a loss of 700,000 payroll employees for this period, the largest fall on record.

Commenting on the latest employment figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today (Tuesday), which show the largest annual rise in unemployment nationwide for eight years, the largest fall in jobs on record for 18 to 24 year olds, and sharp falls in employment across many industries, TUC Regional Secretary Bill Adams said:

“These are deeply worrying figures. With state support coming to an end the threat of mass unemployment is very real. We are calling on Conservative MPs to lobby Ministers to act now to protect and create jobs.

“That means building on the furlough scheme by setting up a new job retention and upskilling deal, to keep people employed at firms that have a viable future. 

“And it means creating good new jobs too. Recent TUC analysis shows the government could create 60,000 jobs for Yorkshire in two years by fast-tracking green infrastructure investment and unlocking 600,000 public sector vacancies nationally.

“When the crisis began, the Chancellor said he would do ‘whatever it takes’. He must keep that promise.”

Turning point 

Commenting on recent TUC analysis that shows BME workers have been asked to “shoulder more risk” during the pandemic, TUC Regional Secretary Bill Adams said: “Coronavirus has exposed the huge inequalities BME women and men face at work – with many forced to shoulder greater risk during this crisis. 

“BME workers are hugely overrepresented in undervalued, low-paid and casualised jobs, with fewer rights and no sick pay. During the pandemic many BME people have paid for these poor working conditions with their lives. 

“This crisis has to be a turning point. The government must challenge the systemic racism and inequality that holds BME people back at work, and beyond.”

ENDS