Long-term jobless rate soars

MORE than 1,300 long-term unemployed Oldham people will spend Christmas on the dole.

Gloomy figures released by the TUC show the soaring number of people out of work for more than a year.

The union’s statistics show that there were 485 long-term dole claimants in Oldham in 2007, which shot up to 1,010 in 2010 — a rise of 179 per cent.

This has increased again to 1,355 this year, a rise of 34 per cent over 12 months.

Across the North-West, almost 200,000 people will be spending Christmas on the dole, and for 33,000 it will be the second Christmas running without work.

As unemployment rises, wages are also falling in real terms — leaving many families who have work trying to enjoy Christmas on low wages.

The TUC say falling living standards has been the main cause of the economy flat-lining, with no economic growth this year, and blames Government austerity measures for tightening the squeeze.

North-West TUC Regional Secretary Alan Manning said: “As people gear up for the festive break, there won’t be much cheer for the 200,000 people who are spending Christmas on the dole — 33,000 for the second time.