Women bear brunt of job losses

UNEMPLOYMENT in Oldham defied the national trend by rising for the second successive month, with women bearing the brunt of job losses.

Changes to benefit rules have resulted in women switching from income support to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) over the past two months.

The number of female claimants has now increased for nine months in a row and fallen for men for 14 consecutive months.

There are 1,982 women out of work in the borough — a rise of 109 from January — probably as a result of temporary contracts from the festive period coming to an end. The figure for jobless men was also up, by 33, to 4,958, the highest since May last year.

The total number of people out of work in Oldham in February was 6,940, the highest since April last year.

Nationally, youth unemployment has edged closer to a million and the number of women claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance has reached a near 15–year high.

The jobless total fell by 17,000 to 2.48 million in the quarter to February, the first cut since last autumn, but the numbers claiming job–related benefits rose.

The so–called claimant count increased by 700 last month to 1.45 million, including 462,300 women, the highest figure since October, 1996.

The number of young jobless (18 to 24) increased by 12,000 over the quarter to 963,000, while the total for those aged 16 and 17 increased by 14,000 to 218,000, the highest since records began in 1992.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the number of unemployed men fell by 31,000 to 1.45 million and increased by 14,000 for women to just over a million.

Nationally, employment has increased, showing a 143,000 rise to 29.23 million, although the figure is still 331,000 below the pre–recession peak reached in May, 2008.

The Government said tackling youth unemployment remained a priority, centred on growth in apprenticeships and work-experience places.

A new Work Programme will be launched in the summer, offering extra support for jobseekers.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling said of the national statistics: “These figures are another step in the right direction. It’s good news to see a rise in the number of full-time jobs in the private sector and the fall in unemployment is welcome.”