Prentis warns of lack of jobs
A drop in the number of new jobs has exposed the government’s economic strategy as a sham, according to the head of Unison.
Ahead of the publication of monthly unemployment figures, Dave Prentis, general secretary of the biggest union representing local government workers, said official unemployment figures showed that employment opportunities had almost halved in some areas of the country.
Across the country in November 2010, there are just 68% of the vacancies there were three years ago, according to the latest data from the Office of National Statistics.
“There is serious trouble ahead,” said Mr Prentis. “Osborne and Cameron’s economic strategy is a sham. The Tories are relying heavily on private sector jobs growth to fuel the recovery. But this analysis proves there has been a shocking collapse in the number of jobs available, spelling real danger for our economy.”
Mr Prentis said cuts to public sector employment were set to impact further on the private sector. “Thousands of companies dependent on public contracts and on consumer spending are suffering,” he said.
A regional breakdown shows that Scotland is the worst hit, with just 39% of the vacancies of November 2007, followed by the east Midlands with 49%.
The north-east, north-west and Yorkshire & Humberside are also at the bottom of the table, while London, the east of England, the west Midlands and the south-east all have more than three-quarters of the unfilled posts of three years ago.
www.lgcplus.com 18/01/2011
