MP urges Government action on Oldham's unemployed

Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon

MP Jim McMahon urged the government to clarify what support it was giving to help people in Oldham into work, amid evidence of increasing unemployment.

New statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions raise serious questions about the support being offered to local people to help them into employment.

There are particular concerns around the rate of employment among young people in OIdham. 

The statistics show that Oldham West and Royton has the joint seventh highest level of youth unemployment in the country.

The number of young people claiming Universal Credit and seeking work has increased by 37.5% in the last 12 months.

The statistics show that the overall unemployment rate in the constituency stands at 7.1% of the economically active population, a figure that is almost double the UK average.  

Meanwhile, the overall number of claimants of JSA and Universal Credit rose by 61% in the last year (an increase of 1,240 in Oldham West and Royton between April 2017 and April 2018).

Oldham West and Royton MP Mr McMahon said: “These statistics raise some serious concerns about what the government is doing to help people into decent, well paid and secure employment.

“The recent announcement of closure of Shop Direct highlights perfectly the challenges we face here in Oldham.

"My concern is that we have a government that is dogmatically pursuing Universal Credit, which is set-up to fail, not help people.”