Youth jobs in crisis: MP
Michael Dugher
DEARNE MP Michael Dugher has warned the number of young people out of work in Barnsley is at “crisis” levels after new figures showed youth unemployment in the area has risen.
The Office of National Statistics revealed the number of 18 to 24 year olds in Barnsley that have been unemployed for more than six months has risen by 56 per cent in the last year.
Mr Dugher, Labour MP for Barnsley East, said this was proof the Government’s welfare to work programmes are failing.
He said: “Last month the Government said that the labour market was stabilising, but today’s figures now confirm we have a youth unemployment crisis in Barnsley. Long term youth unemployment has increased by over 50 per cent in Barnsley.
“In America, Germany and Japan unemployment is either flat or falling. This is new proof that the Government’s welfare to work programmes are clearly failing and that it must change course.”
The new figures also show that the number of young people unemployed in Barnsley is currently at 2,385 - a five per cent increase in just 12 months.
Mr Dugher added: “Getting people – particularly our young people – into work is the surest way of getting the deficit down and putting us on the right course for the future.
“Tax rises and spending cuts that go too far and too fast have choked off the recovery and backfired.
“The Government is now set to borrow £158 billion more than planned – more than £6,500 for every household in the country. This isn’t borrowing to support the economy through difficult times, but a huge new bill for failure. “Complacent and out of touch Ministers need to wake up to the jobs crisis they’re responsible for and take urgent action now.”
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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