Long term unemployment is still stubbornly high in Redditch and the Government’s Work Programme is not working

In Redditch, long term unemployment is up 58% on last year.  For 18-24 year olds it's even worse, up 125%.   At the same time as the Government’s Work Programme is found to be failing.

Last month we found out that the Work Programme is getting fewer people into jobs than if the Government did nothing at all.  Only 1.1% of people referred onto the Work Programme have been placed into jobs in Redditch.

 

Rebecca said, “This Government has got to wake up to this crisis.  The cost of living continues to rise, last month prices rose at twice the rate of wages, people are falling further and further behind. 

Right now, three people in Redditch are chasing every vacancy.  The Government must take action now and they should start with Labour’s Real Jobs Guarantee and get our young people back to work. 

The Government does not appear to understand that the best way to reduce borrowing is to get those that can work into work, simply concentrate on cutting benefits without jobs for people to go into is incoherent".

Labour would raise £2 billion from Bankers Bonuses to get young people who are out of work for over a year into work for at least 6 months and to include training to improve their skills and experience.  A National Insurance tax break for small firms hiring new staff would also help stimulate employers to recruit staff, creating new jobs.