John warns of rising unemployment and a divided Britain
JOHN Healey has warned that unemployment is still going up in South Yorkshire, creating a divided country.
New employment figures out today showed that unemployment fell by 50,000 nationally in the three months to August, and by 9,000 in Yorkshire.
But in the Wentworth and Dearne constituency, the number of people out of work went up this month and was 15% higher than in June 2010. Over the past year youth unemployment has more than tripled.
Mr Healey said: “There is no let up for people in Rotherham and Barnsley who are increasingly shut out of the jobs market because of this Government’s economic failure.
“Long term youth unemployment in the Wentworth and Dearne constituency has gone up 218% in the last year, but ministers still refuse to take decisive action.
“Labour is not waiting for the next election to take action. Our Youth Jobs Taskforce is pulling together the best ideas from across the country to take action now.”
Mr Healey added: “We’re seeing an increasingly divided Britain. Overall unemployment is higher than it was at the time of the election in most regions in the UK.
“Long-term and youth unemployment remain big problems. Those in work are often in part-time or temporary jobs because they have no other choice.
“The welfare bill is spiralling and the Work Programme is not doing the job.”
Notes to editors
| JSA claimant count Wentworth and Dearne (source: House of Commons Library) | |
| June 2010 | 2,811 |
| September 2012 | 3,198 |
| October 2012 | 3,239 |
People aged 18-24 claiming JSA for over 12 months by constituency, September 2011 and 2012 (source: ONS via NOMIS)
| Sept 2011 | Sept 2012 | Change | % change | |
| Barnsley Central | 75 | 200 | 125 | 167% |
| Barnsley East | 85 | 195 | 110 | 129% |
| Rother Valley | 65 | 180 | 115 | 177% |
| Rotherham | 85 | 290 | 205 | 241% |
| Wentworth & Dearne | 85 | 270 | 185 | 218% |