Six hopefuls chase every job vacancy

SIX people are chasing every job vacancy across Oldham — the second highest in Greater Manchester.

The figures, which come ahead of new unemployment data published tomorrow, show the stark reality facing more than 7,400 people claiming out-of-work benefits across the borough.

Latest figures show there are 1,220 job vacancies in Oldham available meaning 6.1 people are chasing every position.

Across Tameside the position is worse at 7.5 people per job. All other parts of Greater Manchester have fewer people per vacancy with Trafford being the lowest with 1.7 claimants per jobs advertised.

Nationally four people are chasing every vacancy.

Experts predict unemployment will not fall below 2.5 million until at least 2016 but instead peak at 2.9 next year.

John Philpott, chief economic adviser of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) forecast that the UK’s jobless rate will jump to 8.8 per cent at the end of 2013.