Unemployment claimant count rises

The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in Rochdale has risen again. 

Last month 7,603 claimed the benefit compared with 7,384 the month before. 

Dr Brian Sloan, Head of Business and Economic Policy at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “Growth in the economy has been weak and this is reflected in the continued upward movement in unemployment nationally by 80,000.

“In Greater Manchester, mirroring a national increase, we have also seen the claimant count rise by 2,240. Our latest Quarterly Economic Survey is indicating there are private sector jobs being created but this is struggling to keep pace with demand, particularly from young people leaving full-time education this summer.

“Our young people across the region have made a disproportionate contribution to the claimant count rise, with the 18-24 age group seeing 1,370 more people looking for work in the month of August; we did expect this to happen and would encourage those in this age group looking for work to consider the 300 or so apprenticeship vacancies that the Chamber currently has on offer.

“With youth unemployment continuing to rise it is important that Government makes good use of resources to create jobs and training opportunities, the likely under spend on the national insurance contribution holiday could be put to good use creating jobs and training through apprenticeships to meet the long-term skills needs of business.”