01/02/2009 - The true cost of the recession on Middlesbrough jobs

New analysis by the Conservatives has revealed the true cost of the recession on people’s jobs.

The claimant count for Jobseeker’s Allowance has risen dramatically in recent months with 1.16 million people now claiming the benefit, a rise of over 77,000 in just one month and almost 350,000 compared with this time last year. However, Jobseeker’s Allowance figures do not tell the full story, with millions of people out of work but claiming other benefits such as Incapacity Benefit and Income Support. When these are taken into account the jobless figure quadruples to 4.5 million, with many constituencies where one in four people are out of work and on benefits.
 
Middlesbrough has the most concerning figures in the North East revealing that 3,942 people were claiming job seekers allowance, 6,960 people on incapacity benefit, and 2,490 on income support.  This out of a working population of 57,919 amounts to 23% out of work.

Commenting on these figures, Conservative candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Paul Bristow, stated:

“These figures show that Labour did nothing to solve unemployment on Teesside and the rest of the North East during better economic times.   We should have helped many of these people back into work years ago when there were jobs available.  With unemployment soaring the task of welfare reform will be even more challenging but certainly not one we should back away from.”