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Fury over youth jobless figures
ANOTHER rise in unemployment in South Tyneside today sparked an angry response from a senior councillor – and demands from MP David Miliband for urgent Government help for the area’s young jobless.
Figures reveal a total of 7,227 people in the borough claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance in January, compared with 6,730 the previous month.
South Tyneside remains a regional jobless blackspot, with 7.2 per cent of the working age population now claiming benefit, compared with 5.6 per cent across the North East.
And local youth unemployment among those aged 18 to 24 has continued its upward curve, from 2,130 in December to 2,275 last month.
The borough’s latest jobless rise provoked an attack on Government policy by Coun Michael Clare, South Tyneside Council’s lead member for regeneration and jobs, who said: “The ConDem Government lack the political direction to tackle unemployment and appear unable or unwilling to react to the situation to prevent further deterioration.
“I call on them to seriously review opposition to public spend and, where appropriate, allow local authorities such as South Tyneside, which has the desire to create employment opportunities, greater flexibility and unlock the shackles from central Government to meet their obligations for their communities.
“If this means relaxing austerity measures, then do it. Unemployment is not a price worth paying and is a blight on both confidence and progress.”
Coun Clare also defended council measures to boost local employment, including flagship projects like the BT centre at South Shields riverside.
Mr Miliband said yesterday’s rise in youth unemployment underlined the case for action on a “tragic issue.”
He said: “We now know the cost of current levels of youth unemployment is going to be close to £30bn over the next decade.
“I again call on the Government to double its proposed number of wage subsidies for employers taking on young people, offer a part-time job guarantee to prevent long-term unemployment becoming lifetime under-employment, and open up access to apprenticeships of higher quality.
“After the report of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations on youth unemployment, there are now practical ideas ready and waiting to be implemented. The Government must act now.”
But James Ramsbotham, North East Chamber of Commerce chief executive, believes there are grounds for cautious optimism in the employment market, after total unemployment fell by 4,000 in the past quarter, while employment rose by 20,000.
He said: “Any fall in the number of unemployed people in the North East must be welcomed, but it is important that we do not get too carried away with the figures.
“The performance of our regional manufacturers and exporters continues to outstrip the rest of the country and we remain the only region with a positive balance of overseas trade.”
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
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marcussmod
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 02:26 PMI notice Millibland, like all New Lab luvvies refuses to acknowledge the devastating effect of his parties open door immigration policy during the thirteen years they were in power. There is a huge over supply of labour in the post industrial UK as 2m+ were added to the labour supply. The labour market is effectively casualised. With part time temporary jobs the norm. The ONS shows that five people are chasing every job ( even more in the NE) yet the hapless Millibland Junior is still an advocate of mass immigration. The hypocrisy of the Millblands knows no limits
Havyasay
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 11:51 AMI agree with the last few comments, this labour lot had their chance and did nowt for this area. I wish i could smell the wind of change, but sadly it ain`t going to happen...
wasthatthatguy
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 03:15 PMAnd, Mr Brown made even more money last year than Mr Miliband!
wasthatthatguy
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 03:12 PMDid Tony Blair's wealth increase between 1997 and now? Yes, massively!
wasthatthatguy
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 03:06 PMAnd, did the employment situation in South Tyneside improve when Labour was in power from 1997 until 2010? Nope.
wasthatthatguy
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 02:58 PMThere's only two things I can think of which have any chance of significantly reducing unemployment in South Tyneside. (i) The Government is "encouraged" to transfer public sector jobs out of London to South Tyneside. Not referring to them as ConDems may increase the chances of that happening. (ii) A second foreign car manufacturer is "encouraged" to locate a factory in South Tyneside. Can Mr Miliband and or Mr Hepburn do that?
bohemianblogger
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:53 PMLets have a poll to see if anyone even cares what David Miliband says anymore. He never goes to PMQ's, he has admitted he will not represent us in London, period, he is never here unless theres a photo opportunity, he has taken so many jobs he doen't need to claim expenses at the cost of the taxpayer, but he does, by the bucketload. To say Miliband gives a damn about the jobless figures is a joke, he knows he has to pipe up on odd occasions as elections are creeping up, after elections he will disappear for a few months again. If I had a job, claimed thousands in expenses, moonlighted on 5 other jobs and never turned up for work I would be sacked. Because David is the brother of Ed Milliband, somehow rapine of the working class of South Shields is acceptable!!
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