Latest JSA figures show decrease in Telford & Wrekin claimants
The latest unemployment figures for Telford and Wrekin show a decrease in those claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in the borough.
The figure is down by 115 from 3,420 in February to 3,305 in March, a monthly drop of 3.4 per cent.
This latest figure represents 28.1 per cent less than a year ago when there were 4,595 people claiming Job Seekers Allowance in Telford and Wrekin.
High youth unemployment in the borough remains a serious concern for the Council and continues to be higher than the national and regional figures for this age group.
Telford & Wrekin Council is committed to helping people to find training and employment opportunities and the Council’s Cabinet has signed up to a number of pledges designed to do this.
Last month saw thousands attend the biggest jobs fair in the borough in the hope of finding employment and training opportunities.
Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for Employment and Skills, said: “A decrease in JSA claimants is good news for the borough and demonstrates the success of our work to support local people to find lasting employment.
“The JSA figures don’t tell the full story as they mask the true number of those unemployed who are not claiming Job Seekers Allowance.
“High youth unemployment in the borough remains a serious concern that we are keen to address. Securing sufficient working hours is also a problem for many people in the borough and we are looking at what we can do to help people access more opportunities.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure that local people have the right skills for the local jobs market. This is particularly important for young people in the borough who are finding it increasingly difficult to find employment opportunities.”
