‘No drop’ in finding work

THE number of NEETS — young people not in employment, education or training — has fallen by 7 per cent over the last 12 months.

Oldham Council’s credit crunch war cabinet — set up to deal with problems caused by the recession — has learned that compared with other areas, local young people were more likely to be in work or training, or continuing their studies in further or higher education.

Despite the recession, and evidence of redundancies, there has been “no significant drop” in the number of people finding work, according to council leader and war cabinet chairman Howard Sykes.

He said: “Oldham can take heart from the fact that most of the people who start to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance do so for a very short period.

“The majority are back in work quickly.

“Those who do find themselves unemployed for a longer period of time should be reassured that Oldham Partnership has helped 700 long-term unemployed residents back into work over the last year.”

Nick Brown, principal of Oldham Sixth Form College, said: “It’s pleasing that more of Oldham’s young people are working, studying or training — it shows that young people in Oldham aspire to do well, and have just as much opportunity to succeed here as anywhere else.”

At its next meeting, the war cabinet will look at:

::How workers facing a reduction in their hours can be supported.

::Providing a range of information for residents, including roadshows and advice clinics for businesses.

::A volunteering programme for Oldham, so that residents who are out of work can continue to develop their skills and ‘keep their hand in’, making it easier for them to return to work.