COOPER: JOBS ARE THE TOP PRIORITY

Helping people back into work as quickly as possible is vital, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper said today.

New figures out from the UK Statistics Authority show that, although there has been another rise in overall unemployment, the number of new claims being made for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) has fallen for the second month in a row, and the numbers leaving JSA each month continue to rise.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper said:

“Today’s figures show the importance of providing extra help for people and families coping with unemployment. Families across Britain are continuing to feel the consequences of the global recession. Unemployment has increased in Britain and across the world, although it is lower here than in the US and the Euro-zone.

“It is vital we do everything we can both to help people into work right now, and to prevent long term unemployment scarring families and communities for the future. That is why we are investing £5bn extra into helping jobseekers – creating jobs for young people and those in the hardest hit communities, delivering training and skills, and providing 16,000 extra frontline staff in Jobcentres across the country.

“The figures show the number of new claimants has fallen for the last two months, but many people are still facing significant difficulties and we are determined to provide more help.

“We will not turn our backs on people who need help. Nor will we stand by while people slip into the kind of long term unemployment or worklessness that scarred families in past recessions.”

Since November 2008 the Government has invested £5bn in helping jobseekers. This includes the £1bn Future Jobs Fund which will help create 150,000 new jobs for young people and those in the most deprived areas.

The investment also includes extra help for all customers at day one and six months of their claim, as well as more support for Jobcentre Plus, including a trial to extend the opening hours so staff can dedicate more time and help to those who need it most. This is on top of the extra 16,000 Jobcentre Plus staff being employed to help offices deal with increased numbers of jobseekers.

New figures released today also show little change in the number of people claiming inactive benefits in contrast to previous recessions.