9:30am Thursday 18th March 2010
THE DOLE queues in Swindon shortened last month – with 82 fewer people claiming jobless benefits since the previous count.
Official figures showed that 5,601 people in the town claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance in February - down 1.4% on January.
The rest of Wiltshire also recorded a fall, with the number of claimants down 2.1% to 7,196.
Nationally, the Office for National Statistics data showed the number of people claiming JSA fell by 32,300 on the month, while the International Labour Organisation’s measure of unemployment – which includes students looking for work — fell 33,000 on the quarter to 2.45 million, the largest fall in unemployment for two-and-a-half years.
South Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove said: “The latest employment figures show that the real help from this Government is continuing to ensure people are getting back to work or training. Today’s figures show that the claimant count is down by nearly 1,000 people since June of last year. Youth unemployment has also continued to fall which is really good news.
“The Future Jobs Fund which creates real jobs for young people has helped over 400 18-24 year olds in Swindon so far. I would encourage any local business or organisation that would like to take on more young people to contact me.”
However, the Government warned that further increases in unemployment were expected before the summer, before further falls in the second half of the year.
Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “We should remain cautious. We’re not out of the woods yet and we are still determined to do more to support jobs and help the unemployed this year.
“The figures show the investment in jobs, education and training places is making a real difference. Half a million fewer people are out of work than anticipated at the time of last year’s budget - saving over £10bn as a result.
“However, now is not the time to cut back on support for jobs. We know things will be difficult for some time, and unemployment in the eighties and nineties rose for years after the recessions finished. That is why we plan to increase help to get people back into jobs this year, not cut it back, so we can support the jobs of the future.”
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Theresa May said: “Any fall in the headline unemployment figures is welcome, but these figures are still real cause for concern. With fewer people in work and fewer jobs in the economy there is now a real fear of a jobless recovery under Labour. Long term unemployment is continuing to grow and more people are disappearing from the unemployment figures.”
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