7,356 and rising

the number of people out of work in Oldham has risen for the fourth successive month . . . while, nationally, there has been a fall for the first time in 18 months.

The leap in September, by 150, means there are almost 3,000 more people out of work in Oldham than in September last year.

There are 7,356 people out of work in the borough which, aside from a downward blip in May and June this year, has seen the jobless tally rise inexorably in the last 22 months.

Of this total, there are 5,524 men seeking jobs, a rise of 98, and 1,832 women, up 52.

These figures represent 5.5 per cent of the population — the third highest in Greater Manchester behind Rochdale (6.1) and Manchester (5.8) and compare badly with the regional total of 4.7 and the national average of 4.2.

Nationally, unemployment has fallen for the first time since March, 2008, with 2.469 million unemployed in the three months to August — 1,000 less than the 2.47 million out of work during the three months to July, the Office for National Statistics reports.

Experts warn the jobless crisis is far from over despite the figures being better than expected.