Jobless total down by 200 in a month

UNEMPLOYMENT in Oldham has continued to fall, with the number of people claiming job-seeker’s allowance (JSA) down by 200 over the past month.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that the June figure of 3,869 was down to 3,678 in July

The number of male JSA claimants fell from 2,365 to 2,209 while the number of females on the allowance was cut from 1,531 to 1,469.

Job Centre manager Trisha Hallows said: “The fall in youth unemployment is quite significant and we are working to get people into work around Oldham.

“We are working with the council and they are doing what they can to get people back into employment.

“We are offering more voluntary work experience and offering support, training provisions and advice on how people can search for jobs and boost their skills to help them find work.

“There’s quite a lot going on in Oldham with the council and youth groups and this is all helping to keep bringing the number of people of out work and claiming benefits down.”

Nationally, JSA claimants are on course to dip below a million for the first time in six years.

The claimant count fell for the 21st month in a row in June, by 33,600 to 1.01 million.

The jobless total was 2.08 million in the quarter to June, the lowest since the end of 2009, giving an unemployment rate of 6.4 per cent.

Unemployment has fallen by 437,000 over the past year, although there was a 15,000 increase in the number of people classed as economically inactive to 8.8 million.
To read the full story go the E-Chron digital edition or buy the Chronicle.