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Labour concerns over employment scheme

January 02, 2013

The two new Labour Parliamentary candidates have criticised the Government’s Work Programme, saying long-term unemployment in Reading is ‘still disastrously high’.

Labour’s Reading West candidate Victoria Groulef said: “The Government’s Work Programme is comprehensively failing.

“In Reading West and Reading East, long-term unemployment is up by over 80 per cent on the year.”

She added: “Youth unemployment remains a major concern, with over 1,000 young people across the two constituencies unemployed and an over 430 per cent increase in young people out of work for more than 12 months.

“This Government is writing off our young people.”

Matt Rodda, Labour’s Reading East candidate, added: “Last month we found out that the Work Programme is getting fewer people into jobs than if the Government did nothing at all.

"Only two per cent of people referred on to the Work Programme have been placed into jobs across the whole of Reading West and Reading East. It is a disgraceful waste of resources.”

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Here here racing snake....

Shadow Rider, Tilehurst
06/01/2013 at 10:16

We recently interviewed 25 -30 young people for a entry level bottom of the ladder menial position.

It wasn't the greatest of paid position but wasn't bad either. The level of intelligence shown by all candidates was shocking, barely able to string a sentence together without using words like innit and mate and sort of.

The clothes worn were at best clothes for painting in so we decided to see if a more mature person wanted the job and low and behold, complete difference.

I suggest it isn't the government letting the youth down, it is the youths themselves.

The Racing Snake
05/01/2013 at 15:02

Rose coloured glasses out again I see. The jobless figures always go down every 6 months or so then rise again why because people come off contribution based job seekers and then either go on means tested benifits or come off the register for a while as they are suspended because they have not got a job yet. So no there is not fewer young jobless just more being kept by mummy/daddy or single parent girl friend on benifits. What is interesting however about these figures is there is not so much unemployment in area but higher than average working for less wages than anywhere else.

bahumbug, Reading
02/01/2013 at 16:19

This is a joke... unemployment and youth unemployment are both down since the General Election.

Also, the rise in long term claimants statistics are skewed by the fact that in the past under Labour government if you were moved from Job seekers allowance on to training allowance, then back on JSA you were a 'new claimant'. Since 2011, many fewer people have been moved from JSA to a Training Allowance, with the result that the statistics show a higher number of longer-term JSA claimants (particularly for young claimants).

Jose, Reading
02/01/2013 at 15:17

You think they would be happy, more people to throw money we don't have at.

Shylock Manly, Reading
02/01/2013 at 13:41

Labour let the layabouts flourish in the nineties and live life without contributing. Now their offspring have the mindset of not bothering as school, because the dole will look after them.

Whit Lee
02/01/2013 at 13:32

So we have both statistics AND politicians in one story, both of which are known for their aversion to the truth.

A bit of extra information is needed before we can gasp in horror, wring our hands in guilt, and cry ourselves to sleep at the plight of our young.

1) You say 1,000 young people are unemployed. Youth unemployement in the UK is at 20%. Thus, if the total number of youths in Reading is less than 5,000, this is a worrying statistic. Please let us know the exact percentage so that we can see how much it devaites from the 20% average.

2) You say there is a 430% increase in long term unemployed. From what number last time to what number this time is being compared? 3 lazy kids to 13 lazy kids fits the rise but is statistically insignificant and could have been caused by one company moving town.

Ironically, my contempt for politicians has also increased by 430%. You just couldn't make it up!

IB Fudger
02/01/2013 at 13:29

I thought that people in employment was actually at a record high? Does this mean that it is actually the immigration policy that is at fault? Maybe Labour should look at the non-policy that they had in place when it came to immigration when looking for answers on unemployment? How many Poles were you expecting again, Tony?