Shropshire jobless total up by 10pc in 12 months
Tuesday 15th November 2011, 10:59AM GMT.
Almost 10 per cent more people are out of work across Shropshire today compared with this time last year, it has been revealed.
A total of 4,927 people claimed jobseekers allowance in Shropshire in September, an increase of 477 compared with September 2010.
Figures also show more than 1,500 claimants in the county are now below the age of 25, while nearly 700 people have been claiming jobseekers for more than a year.
However, the figures released by Shropshire Council also reveal the number of people claiming jobseekers allowance is not growing as quickly as the rest of the country.
The claimant rate in the county stands at 2.7 per cent, compared with 4.9 per cent in the West Midlands and 3.9 per cent nationally.
The news comes after a Telford company saw its offices swamped with people trying to secure a job after bosses said they could not fill 30 vacancies.
The business, Unique Copiers in Donnington, Telford, which deals in photocopiers and printers, said last week it had only filled about 10 of its 40 posts since January.
But an appeal for workers by the Shropshire Star saw the firm receive 250 e-mails, 100 applications and 30 people visiting its site in person.
Meanwhile, Tony Bywater, chairman of Shrewsbury caravan dealership Salop Leisure, called on more business owners to take on apprentices.
Mr Bywater said companies had ‘a moral duty’ to help young people into work. I believe that it’s the duty of all employers in our county to look for ways to give young people an opportunity to work.
“Young people are our future and they will play a major role in the success of our businesses for years to come. Unless the country does something about getting young people into work, we are going to have massive problems within the next decade.”
By Jason Lavan
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