Job centre's fair for the out-of-work

Photo: Darren Robinson

A PREVIOUS Get Oldham Working jobs fair at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham

OLDHAM Job Centre will hold a jobs fair this month as it looks to reduce unemployment in the borough which has risen slightly since January.

The latest labour market statistics show there are 4,130 unemployed in the borough, an increase of 175 since January, while the number of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming Universal Credit rose from 855 to 945.

While unemployment has risen, the figures compared with this time last year show a 20 per cent drop of 240 for 18 to 24-year-olds claiming and a five per cent drop for overall unemployment of 255.

Since 2010, the figures show a 64 per cent decrease in 18 to 24-year-olds claiming and the overall number of people claiming is 3,473 fewer.

The figures can fluctuate from month to month and Oldham Job Centre is working to push job opportunities for people within the borough by organising job fairs and events while also working with employers to open doors for people as well as offering support.

An apprenticeship event last week saw 51 people attend on the day along with 13 employers who issued 114 application forms, with feedback from coaches suggesting interviews for the apprenticeships are being booked immediately.

Oldham Job Centre is also hosting a jobs fair in conjunction with Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre on Wednesday, March 22, at the library. There will be 27 employers including GM Fire and Rescue, Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service and GM Mental Health (NHS).

Vivien Robinson, partnership manager at the Department for Work and Pensions, said: "Compared to last year we are still on a drop and the claimants are still getting support.

"We have quite a lot going on in the Job Centre, the drop in numbers for the 18 to 24-year-olds is down to the apprenticeships.

"Recently, we had 13 employers in who run apprenticeships and the feedback we have had from them is that there have been a lot of applications submitted which they will be considering.

"We have the big job fair on March 22 and we have already had 508 referrals from people who are going to the event."

She added: "We are also coming up to Care Month where we promote care awareness and vacancies associated with that."

North-West figures showed there was an increase on last month's figures with 3,590,000 people in employment and a 99,100 claimant count.

Unemployment has fallen to its lowest level in 12 years and the number of women in work has reached a near record high of 1.63million, an increase of 41,000 over the past year.

Record-breaking

Employment Minister Damian Hinds, responding to the North West figures, said: "I'm delighted by another set of record-breaking figures showing more people in work than ever before and unemployment falling to its lowest in 12 years.

"It's good news in the North West where the number of women in work has risen by 41,000 over the past year to a near record high of 1.63 million women in work."