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Dole queues growing faster in city - Tories
DOLE queues are lengthening more quickly in Sheffield than nearly any other local authority area in the country, according to new research by the Tories.
An analysis of the most recent unemployment figures showed that only Birmingham, Leeds and Hull saw bigger increases in the number of out-of-work people claiming Job Seekers' Allowance during the year to November.
The total 'claimant count' in Sheffield stood at 10,532 in November 2008, meaning 2,829 more people were claiming JSA compared to the same point in 2007.
The Tories said their research shows that England's most deprived areas are amongst the hardest hit by the recession and rising unemployment.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Chris Grayling said: "This completely undermines Labour's attempts to say they are going to tackle social mobility.
"Labour have had ten years to make a difference to social mobility but have failed. Now some of England's most deprived areas are being hit the hardest by the recession, making it far more difficult to tackle falling social mobility."
The figures showed that Doncaster's claimant count jumped by 2,135 last year to 6,759. In Rotherham, the claimant count increased by 2,037 to 5,592 in November. In Barnsley, the number of JSA claimants increased by 1,905 to a total of 4,929.
The analysis came as Yorkshire Minister Rosie Winterton said she was drawing up a "comprehensive action plan" to deal swiftly with job losses in region "and to get people back to work as soon as possible".
Ministers insist that despite rising unemployment, the number of job vacancies has increased during the last two months and stands at 34,000 across the region.
Ms Winterton said: "There are many examples of where the current system has proved successful in dealing with job losses. However, it is crucial we have a structure that helps people back into work quickly, gets advice and training to the right people at the right time and to make sure we, as a region, are ahead of the game."
A DWP Spokesperson said: "With over 100,000 vacancies having been notified to jobcentre plus in the last last months in Yorkshire we know companies are still recruiting.
"As we face up to unprecedented global economic challenges the package of measures we announced today will further help those who lose their jobs with tailor made support to get them back into work."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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