Tuesday 9 November 2010

Anglesey and the unemployed - Part I

Previously I asked the question how do you help the long term unemployed on the island, the definition of which is anybody who has being claiming job seekers allowance for more than 12 months.

The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics is as follows:

The population of the island is 68,800, of those 31,600 are economically active, with 2,400 being unemployed, 7.5 % compared to the national average of 8.4% for Wales and 7.9 % for Great Britain. Of those claiming job seekers allowance the number who have been unemployed for more than 12 months is 400 (four hundred) or 23.4% compared to 19% for Wales and 17.8% for Great Britain.

In Anglesey, there are 11,100 economically inactive, of those 2,100 want a job, and 9,000 who do not want a job or 21.5% compared to 20.9% for Wales and 17.9% for Great Britain.

So how do you solve the problem of the long term unemployed – by ensuring they do not become long term unemployed in the first place!

To me it makes sense that we should concentrate on finding work for the 78.5% of the unemployed rather than the 21.5% long term unemployed, the infamous Anglesey 400.

1 comment:

Prometheuswrites said...

Good post (and the one that follows). I think you're correct that focusing on those that want to get back in to work is the priority.