Oldham bucks benefits trend

UNEMPLOYMENT benefit claimants in Oldham have fallen for the second month, bucking the national trend.

Official monthly figures for June show there were 6,750 Oldhamers claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance — down 36 on the previous month.

Claimants were expected to break through the 7,000 barrier, but numbers have actually been falling in Oldham since April.

Nationally, the claimant count rose by 23,800 to 1.56 million, which was still less than analysts had forecast.

Employment Minister Jim Knight said: “There are signs that our actions to help the unemployed are starting to work.

“Through investing now in more staff, more training and working with local employers, fewer people are getting stuck on benefits for months and years.

Mr Knight said young people leaving education was a priority this summer as he pledged to not abandon an entire generation of young people to long-term unemployment.

The Government has guaranteed all 16 and 17-year-olds a place at college and an extra 35,000 apprentice places have been announced.

Graduates who have been on the dole for six months or more will be able to do an internship for up to 13 weeks alongside claiming benefit and looking for work.

According to the Department for Work and Pensions, there are 444 jobs being advertised on jobcentre boards in Oldham.

Only a third of all jobs are held by the Jobcentre Plus, meaning there could be about 1,332 jobs available.

UK unemployment rose by 281,000 to 2.38 million in the three months to May, according to the Office of National Statistics.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said: "It is incredible. It is premature to say the recession is over.

“Local business people are telling me things are very tough indeed but fingers crossed it looks like Oldham is bucking the trend.”