11 scramble for every local job

More than 11 people are chasing every job vacancy in parts of Oldham — double the number across the region.

The worrying figures from the House of Commons library show the struggle the unemployed face to get back into the workplace. Across Oldham West and Royton 11.6 people are chasing every vacancy, ranking it 135 out of the 650 parliamentary constituencies for people looking for work compared to the number of jobs available.

In Oldham East and Saddleworth there are 7.8 jobseekers per vacancy ranking it 255, compared to seven people out of work per job available in Ashton, ranking the constituency (which includes Failsworth) at 290. Across the North-West there are 6.8 people out of work for every vacancy being advertised.

Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher said: “These figures show the depressing situation people face. Government are abolishing the Future Jobs Fund of guaranteed work or training for people at a time when help is needed.

“This is either complacency or damn right destruction of a entire generation. To reach full employment which is what everyone wants we would need to be creating twelve times as many jobs and instead Government are squeezing the economy and reducing investment.

“It is a vicious cycle. It is brutal that this new government is overhauling the welfare system saying they want people to get into work but there are no jobs for them to go to.”

The figures come less than two weeks before Chancellor George Osborne delivers his “most pro-growth Budget in a generation” on March 23.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “The facts are that there are half a million vacancies in the economy at any one time, with Jobcentre Plus taking on 10,000 new vacancies every working day.

“The Government is focused on restoring the economy and supporting private sector jobs growth.”