More to do, but jobless fall is welcome news

LATEST figures show unemployment in the borough has fallen compared with this time last year.

New labour market statistics revealed there are 4,260 unemployed in the borough, with the number of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming Universal Credit at 1,015.

Compared with this time last year there are 190 (16 per cent) fewer 18 to 24-year-olds and 215 (5 per cent) fewer claimants overall.

The fall is welcome news for Oldham Job Centre which held a jobs fair in conjunction with Oldham Library in March as it looked to help residents find work.

Success

The fair, which saw 32 employers attend, including GM Fire and Rescue, Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service and GM Mental Health (NHS), was regarded as a success, according to Vivien Robinson, partnership manager at the Department for Work and Pensions.

She went on to say that the new Audi showroom which is coming soon would bring numerous vacancies as well as there being 4,190 jobs posted on Universal Jobmatch in a five-mile radius of Oldham.

Vivien said: "It has gone in the right direction. We are still waiting for the official figures from the jobs fair but some of the feedback from the exhibitions and employers was very good.

"They were very happy with the fair and the venue and the response from those who attended. There seems to be plenty of jobs at the moment and we are supporting and working with people to get into them. Park Cake Bakeries is recruiting through all of its agencies extensively for an unlimited amount of vacancies.

"Guidant Group, formerly Blue Arrow, is recruiting for warehouse operatives for Shop Direct & Yodel.

"Heads of recruitment interview at Oldham Jobcentre every Wednesday for positions and Avon is attending the centre weekly to discuss their self-employment positions.

"Home Bargains in Chadderton, Alexandra Park and Market Place Oldham are all recruiting for sales assistants and there are 169 apprenticeship vacancies found on Direct Gov within a five-mile radius of Oldham."

Nationally, figures show the employment rate is at 74.6 per cent, with 31.84 million people in work. Unemployment remains low at 4.7 per cent and average weekly wages grew by 2.3 per cent including bonuses over the last year. Separate figures show 1.1 million claims have been made to Universal Credit (UC). Of the 490,000 people now claiming UC, nearly 40 per cent are in work.

Secretary of State Damian Green said: "This is yet another strong set of figures. More people are finding full-time jobs and average wages have grown yet again. But there is always more to do. That's why we're creating a welfare system that rewards work through Universal Credit, which helps claimants keep more of the money they earn."