Youth jobless toll rockets

LONG-term youth unemployment in Oldham East and Saddleworth is up a whopping 137 per cent on last year.

There are now 12.8 people chasing every job vacancy.

Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said: “This jobs crisis shows no signs of letting up, yet complacent ministers are failing to act.

“Overall unemployment is up to more than 3,500 and yet the Government still has no alternative in place for Labour’s successful Future Jobs fund.”

She said that at next week’s budget, the Chancellor should adopt Labour’s five-point plan including a tax on bankers’ bonuses to fund 100,000 youth jobs, and a tax break for small firms taking on extra workers.