Unemployment data in Oldham shows ‘how empty the Government's levelling up promises are’ - says MP

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams

Data released by the House of Commons Library shows there were 845 people aged 18-24 claiming unemployment support in January 2022, across the Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency, 9.8% of the local population compared to the UK rate of 5.0%.

Across all age groups there were 4,765 actual claimants across the constituency in January 2022, that is 1,430 more people than in March 2020, before the first lockdown.

That is equivalent to 7.3% of the Oldham East and Saddleworth population, aged 16-64, compared to a UK rate of 4.3%.

Responding to the data Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said: “These figures confirm working people, especially young people, still face a fragile recovery in the face of a growing cost of living crisis and spiralling inflation. 

“After 12 years of the Conservatives' austerity policies working people will not only be paying more in tax but face rocketing heating bills, price rises, and falling real wages, and all we get from the Government are vague promises about levelling up.

"But, month after month, the unemployment data shows just how empty the Tories’ levelling up promises are.

“Another group who are being seriously affected by Tory policies are disabled people who are two and a half times more likely to be out of work, with the disability employment gap growing to 29%.

“Labour’s plan to deal with rising energy bills is funded by a one-off windfall tax on oil and gas producers, and would save most households around £200, with £600 off bills for those who need it most.

“The Tory proposals for a ‘buy now, pay later’ loan on energy just don’t measure up to the scale of the pressures being faced by households.”

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