One-third of young people on benefits

ALMOST a third of Oldham’s 18-24 year olds are claiming benefits, according to new figures.

GMB’s shocking results come from a new analysis of the official unemployed claimant count figures from the Office for National Statistics.

In December, Oldham had 1,970 youngsters claiming benefits — but mainly job-seeker’s allowance — 31.4 per cent of those claiming in the town.

GMB says that young workers are economic victims of the bankers’ recession.

Paul McCarthy, GMB’s North-West regional secretary said: “In the North-West there are nearly 52,000 young workers aged 18-24 claiming job-seeker’s allowance.

“When you add to that number the rest of the young people not in jobs but seeking work the real number is more than double that figure.”

GMB is planning to get a large number of young workers from the North-West to the TUC demonstration in London on March 26.