Oldham MP: Government is ‘writing off’ unemployed over 50s

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams says the government is ‘writing off’ a generation as new analysis shows that, in her constituency, there are 850 over-50s claiming unemployment social security - an increase of 46% since the pandemic began in 2020.

Nationally, there are now 375,000 over 50s on unemployment social security and looking for work, up 65,000 since the pandemic began.

Ms Abrahams said: “The Conservatives’ failure to provide the right type of support to help people into work, especially those aged over 50 who need more specialist support to find employment, is appalling.”

Across all groups of economically inactive people, including those looking after family members, the short-term and long-term sick, and others, there are over 1.7 million people who want a job. 

The local MP, who sits on the cross party work and pension select committee, added: “It’s shocking that unemployment figures for those over 50 years old have increased by nearly 50 percent here in Oldham East and Saddleworth.

"Instead of offering real help, for example, in retraining, the government are turning their backs and writing off this generation. 

“We’re in the midst of a devastating cost of living crisis and ministers should be doing all they can to help people move into quality jobs.

"It’s recognised that to improve the country’s productive capacity, we need more education and training, not less.

“Being without a job can leave you without hope and trapped in a cycle of despair and many people who lose their job in their 50s fear they will never work again. 

“Frankly, it’s a waste of talent.

“With warnings from the Bank of England that unemployment could rise sharply we need action now to help people with training and specialist support to move into employment and raise living standards. 

“Unemployment can never be a price worth paying which is why a Labour government would provide specialist support to help over 50s return to work.”

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