Jobless rise bucks trend

OLDHAM has seen a rise in the number of people out of work in the town, despite the continuing fall in national unemployment levels.

The total number of people out of work in the borough in January was 5,072 - a rise of 144 on the December figure. January is the key month for temporary workers hired over Christmas to reach the end of their employment

But the figures are significantly better than the same period last year - with 2,989 fewer people out of work. Currently 3,141 men are looking for a job, and 1,931 women.