LATEST figures released on Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) claims, show an increase by 11,000 (14.6 per cent) in Greater Manchester over the past year.
On an annual basis there are 11,000 more JSA claimants in Greater Manchester compared with January 2011, which serves to emphasise just how difficult the last 12 months have been.
The 82,000 people claiming JSA in Greater Manchester in December 2011 have risen by 5.2 per cent in a single month to 86,000 claimants. Similar numbers can be seen for the North West where the increase is 5.5 per cent.
Nearly 1,000 new youth claimants in Greater Manchester, aged 16-24, joined the JSA benefits system between December and January. The amount has now reached 27,000 people in total. There are now 4,600 more youths in Greater Manchester claiming JSA than were in January a year ago.
There has also been a rise of 6.4 per cent for long term claimants (those who have been claiming for six months or longer) in Greater Manchester from December 2011 to January 2012.
Baron Frankal, director of economic strategy at New Economy said: “On an annual basis there are 11,000 more JSA claimants in Greater Manchester compared with January 2011, which serves to emphasise just how difficult the last 12 months have been.
Youth unemployment remains high on the agenda and we need to reduce the number of people aged 16-24 who are out of work. That is why the announcement last week that employers in the region are to be offered and extra £750 for every apprentice they take on shows that Greater Manchester is reacting to the problem. “
He went on to say that new opportunities must be created and investments made in projects that could help long-term growth such as the Graphene Hub, Airport City and developments regarding MediaCity.
