New unemployment figures make for grim reading for the thousands of squeezed families in Teesside desperate for good news on the economy. Unemployment is now at its highest rate since 1995 and long term youth unemployment has more than doubled in the last year.
The number of those claiming unemployment benefit in Stockton North in January this year was 4,159, an increase of 215 from the previous month alone. 1 in 10 of the economically active population is now unemployed and jobs are so scarce that 9 people are chasing every one job in Stockton North.
Alex said:
“These figures confirm what young people in Stockton already know – this Government is creating a jobless generation.
“Long term youth unemployment in Stockton North is up an astonishing 117% in the last year, yet the government has still not properly replaced Labour’s successful Future Jobs fund. Our young people are been left to pay the price for this government’s failure”.
“Complacent and out of touch Ministers need to wake up to the jobs crisis they’re responsible for and take urgent action now. They should adopt Labour’s five point plan for jobs immediately, including a tax on bankers’ bonuses to fund 100,000 much needed jobs for our young people.”
